Champions League Report: Real Too Good For Marseille
Real Madrid got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start with a 4-2 win over Marseille.
Real Madrid got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start with a 4-2 win over Marseille.
Didier Drogba put the visitors ahead, but goals from Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo sent the Menengues in 2-1 up at the break.
Ronaldo and a Luis Figo penalty then made it 4-2, before Daniel van Buyten scored a late consolation for the French.
Marseille launched a couple of counterattacks early on, with Drogba narrowly failing to connect with an Ecker cross, and Mido forcing Iker Casillas into a low save.
On 17 minutes a Zinedine Zidane screamer went inches wide, before Roberto Carlos fired just over after some terrific interplay.
After 25 minutes Marseille were ahead when Real failed to clear and Drogba pounced on a loose ball into box before shooting low into Casillas's bottom right corner.
At the other end Raul headed a right-wing cross just off target, but within seconds Carlos Queiroz's men were level when Carlos volleyed David Beckham's cross into the ground and up into the top right-hand corner.
After Beckham had fired just wide, Ronaldo slipped through the Marseille defence, but Runje was equal to his shot.
Shortly afterwards it was 2-1 as Ronaldo pounced on a Michel Salgado cross and scored from close range.
Just before the interval Carlos received the ball from Zidane but his effort went just wide.
On 56 minutes the goal of the night. Carlos, after some terrific improvisation at the back, gave the ball to Zidane. The Frenchman ran at the centre of the Marseille defence, before Ronaldo swept a curling effort left-footed past Runje.
Three minutes later it was 4-1. Carlos was brought down in the box by Runje who instead of being sent-off, was given a yellow card. Luis Figo converted from the spot on the second attempt, after the referee ordered that his penalty be retaken.
Little in the way of goal-mouth action took place in the next 20 minutes, with Real always in control. On 79, substitute Johansen forced Casillas into a diving save, before Ronaldo had a couple of penalty appeals turned down at the other end.
After Casillas had blocked a low shot from Mido, van Buyten scored a consolation for Marseille when he rose above Francisco Pavon to head home a corner kick.
The last action of a thrilling match saw Runje punch away a trademark Beckham free-kick.