Lazio come from behind to hold Real

Two goals from Goran Pandev allowed Lazio to come from behind and earn a 2-2 draw with Group C rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Ruud van Nistelrooy poked in a Wesley Sneijder freekick in the eighth minute to give the Spanish champions the lead but the Macedonia striker replied with a venomous volley in the 32nd.

Real regained their advantage 16 minutes after the break when Dutchman Van Nistelrooy raced unopposed on to goal after Raul had split open the Lazio defence with a smart pass.

Pandev earned his side a point with powerful shot from the edge of the area in the 75th.

"It is difficult to win everywhere you go," Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster told a news conference.

"It was an open game and a draw is a positive result. We went 2-1 up and perhaps we felt we were in control. But Lazio fought phenomenally, they didn't let us win."

The Serie A team made a bright start but were soon caught out when Sneijder's freekick filtered through to the former Manchester United forward.

Defender Guglielmo Stendardo headed a Luciano Zauri freekick into the penalty to set up Pandev's first.

Before the equaliser, the Macedonian had wasted two great chances, blasting a shot over the bar with only Real keeper Iker Casillas to beat and going alone instead of passing when the defence was outnumbered.

Lazio's 43-year-old keeper Marco Ballotta, the oldest footballer to have played in the Champions League group stage, did well to save two Van Nistelrooy efforts after the break.

Substitute Stephen Makinwa could have won it for Lazio at the death, but he rifled a shot at Casillas from a good position.

Lazio coach Delio Rossi praised his side's character.

"I am proud of the boys," he said. "They were tense at first, playing against Real Madrid in front of a full crowd."

"Perhaps we deserved something more, we created more chances. But this performance will boost our self-confidence. It shows the boys they can play at the top level."