Beckenbauer accolade for Real

Former Bayern Munich and Germany great Franz Beckenbauer said Thursday Real Madrid were in a class of their own.

"No team can match Real Madrid," said Beckenbauer who won three European Cups with Bayern and the World Cup as a player and coach with West Germany.

"They're out on their own," he said of Real's performance in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final with Manchester United.

Brazil World Cup star Ronaldo scored a hat-trick for Real who lost 4-3 but qualified 6-5 on aggregate.

"The match was formidable, dramatic. Real controlled their opponents. They scored, slowed the game down then upped the tempo. I've never seen a team these last few years control the change of rhythm as Real did."

Real are on course for a 10th European Cup. They play Juventus in the semi-finals in May.

Beckenbauer said United manager Alex Ferguson had blundered by starting the match without David Beckham.

"Beckham was the best player and most efficient in the 25 minutes he played," he said.