European Champions League

Real Madrid 2 - BATE Borisov 0

Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Heinze, Marcelo; Gago (Diarrá 35'), Guti (Higuaín 68'); Van der Vaart, Raúl, Robben (Drenthe 60'); Van Nistelrooy. 4-2-3-1.
Borisov: Veremko; Khagush, Sosnovski, Rzhevski, Yurevich; Likhtarovich (Volodko 58'), Kryvets; Sivakov, Nekhaychik, Stasevich (Zhavnerchik 46'); Mirchev (Kazantev 64'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 10. Sergio Ramos. Beat Veremko after Guti played across corner.
2-0. 56. Van Nistelrooy. From close up after Raúl's shot came back off defenders.

A comfortable win for Real Madrid in their opening game, although given the opposition they must have been hoping for a bigger scoreline. The side from Bielorussia were making their debut in the competition, not only for the club but also for the country, and everybody expected them to be overawed by the occasion. It looked like that at the beginning, Guti putting a good chance wide before the veteran midfielder served the ball on a plate for Sergio Ramos to open the scoring.

Raúl and Van Nistelrooy both shot just wide soon afterwards, but after that things quietened down, Gago leaving the field with an injury midway through the first half. And when Casillas had to dive low to save a Kryvets header from a long free kick, there was some dissent from the crowd.

Ten minutes in to the second half Van Nistelrooy did get the easiest of second goals, Raúl's shot being saved by Veremko but deflecting back off Azhevskiy right to the poacher in front of goal. And when full back Khagush was sent off for a second booking with half an hour still to go it looked like the floodgates would open. But it was not to be, and Madrid were lucky to be let off a penalty when Heinze elbowed Sosnovski in the area. The fans were not happy, but at least it was a win.