Five star Real thrash Kiev
Real Madrid bounced back from their 2-0 mauling by Lyon in the Champions League two weeks ago to inflict a 5-1 thrashing on Dynamo Kiev.
Real Madrid bounced back from their 2-0 mauling by Lyon in the Champions League two weeks ago to inflict a 5-1 thrashing on Dynamo Kiev.
Two goals apiece from Ruud van Nistelrooy and captain Raul Gonzalez, and one from Jose Antonio Reyes, produced the nine-time kings of Europe's best win in continental competition since their 6-0 win over Genk in 2002.
The victory will reassure Real coach Fabio Capello and Real's ever-critical fans that they can still qualify from Group E with ease and mount a serious challenge to become European champions for a record 10th time.
Van Nistelrooy, who had become a father for the first time less than 24 hours earlier, opened the scoring after 20 minutes by hammering home a loose ball after Kiev keeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy had failed to grab hold of a Roberto Carlos cross.
Raul then crowned his return to the starting lineup, after being left among the substitutes for Real's 1-0 win at Real Betis on Saturday, with a stunning header six minutes later.
A long pass from Jose Antonio Reyes from the right side of the midfield found Raul roaming forward and the Bernabeu icon showed the skill that has made him the highest scorer in Champions League history by nodding the ball past Shovkovskiy.
Reyes then got on the score sheet himself two minutes into injury time at the end of the first half with a wonderful half-volley from just inside the area, the former Arsenal winger connecting with a Mahamadou Diarra pass.
Real must have been feeling happy with their advantage but they were quickly shaken out of their complacency by Artem Milevskiy finding the net less that two minutes into the second half following some slack defending.
The goal had the effect of getting them focussed again and Raul added Real's fourth just on the hour, his 53rd Champions League goal in Europe's top club competition.
Shortly afterwards, van Nistelrooy then got Real's fifth goal from the penalty spot after he had been dragged down by Shovkovskiy while bearing down on goal.
To make matters even worse for the Ukrainians, the luckless Shovkovskiy was shown a red card for his deliberate foul. Van Nistelrooy was almost immediately substituted after his second goal.
The Dutchman was replaced by Ronaldo as massive cheers rang out around the Santiago Bernabeu stadium for both men, with the Brazilian star wandering onto the pitch to play his first minutes for Real this season.
Capello's midfield and forwards were on song despite the absence of their effervescent Italian striker Antonio Cassano.
What will concern Capello more, especially with his reputation for fashioning teams with rock solid rearguards, is that his defence was clearly out of tune.
Kiev had several chances to score in the first half before Milevskiy broke through and then they went close another two more times late in the game despite the match having long been lost.
For the third game running, David Beckham was left on the bench and the form of Jose Antonio Reyes makes it questionable whether the former England captain will get a recall for Sunday's local derby against Atletico Madrid.
Beckham did come on for Reyes after half time, Capello clearly wanting to keep his hardworking winger from blowing his batteries with several important games coming up in the next few weeks.
However, in the 45 minutes he was given, Beckham did little to convince anyone that he will be able to replace Reyes as the first choice for Capello down the right flank in the foreseeable future.