Steaua Bucharest 1 - Real Madrid 4

Steaua: Fernandes; Saban (Thereau 59'), Goia, Ghionea, Marin; Nicolita, Lovin (Petre 62'), Paraschiv (Oprita 78'), Bostina; Dica; Badea. 4-4-1-1.
Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Iván Helguera, Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos; Diarra, Emerson; Raúl, Guti (Beckham 71'), Robinho; Van Nistelrooy (Ronaldo 78'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
0-1. 09. Sergio Ramos. Ran in from edge of area to head Guti corner past keeper.
0-2. 34. Raúl. Turned ball in to net after Fernandes blocked Van Nistelrooy shot.
0-3. 56. Robinho. Cut past Saban and struck shot which deflected in off defender.
1-3. 64. Badea. Beat Casillas from close up after Thereau laid ball back.
1-4. 76. Van Nistelrooy. Picked up ball inside area and chipped shot over keeper.

A good result for Real Madrid in their third group stage match, a 1-4 victory at Steaua Bucharest leaving them well on the way to a place in the next round. Starting the day level on points with the Rumanians, Fabio Capello's side could not afford to slip up. And the coach surprised the pundits, pushing Sergio Ramos out to right back and including the out of favour Iván Helguera in the centre of defence, with Robinho getting a rare start on the left wing.

With only nine minutes gone though, Sergio Ramos came from the back of the area to head Guti's corner past a shaky Fernandes. Casillas was in action to make a spectacular save from Dica, but soon afterwards Raúl made it two after the keeper could only block a close range shot from Van Nistelrooy.

The local keeper's reputation had gone before him, and Roberto Carlos, Robinho and Sergio Ramos all tried their luck with long shots either side of half time. Steaua had a couple of weak penalty claims turned down, but Robinho put the result out of their reach with a third goal, leaving Saban for dead before firing in an angled shot which took a deflection off Goia.

The home fans finally had something to cheer about when Badea got one back, Cannavaro unable to clear after Thereau laid the ball in from the by-line and the striker taking advantage of a lucky bounce to beat Casillas from close up. For a few minutes Steaua pushed forward, but Raúl should have finished things off when he shot over the top after Roberto Carlos set him up.

It only took another two minutes though before Van Nistelrooy did make it four, picking up a long ball from Diarra and chipping a delightful shot over the head of the stranded Fernandes. Capello gave a run out to Ronaldo after that, and the striker did at least bring one save out of the keeper. But by then the home side had given up, and Madri