Panathinaikos coach says Real shown too much respect

Panathinaikos coach Yiannis Kyrastas was frustrated that his team were not more adventurous as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat against Real Madrid in their group C Champions League match at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.

"It was a great experience for our team, but in the first half we showed far too much respect for Real Madrid," Kyrastas said.

"We did not have the confidence and calmness to pass the ball around and we did not close down their speedy forwards quickly enough."

Real dominated the first period and a 1-0 halftime lead was scant reflection given their monopoly of possession and scoring opportunities.

Midfielder Ivan Helguera notched the only goal of the half as he squeezed his acute angled shot between the legs of goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis four minutes before the break.

"I tried to correct these things in the second half," said Kyrastas.

"I told them we needed to be more adventurous, keep the ball and give our forwards the ball more quickly and we certainly played better after the break."

Panathinaikos appeared to take heed of their coach's advice as they had a brief attacking spell at the beginning of the second half, but Raul grabbed two opportunist strikes in six minutes to put paid to any hopes of a comeback.

The Spanish international striker scored his first with a diving header on 66 minutes after a Roberto Carlos cross bounced off Fernando Morientes into his path and wrapped up an easy win six minutes later.

The victory puts Real three points clear at the top of group C ahead of Sparta Prague who won 1-0 at Porto. Panathinaikos prop up the group level on one point with the Portuguese side.

"I think we played a very complete game," said Real coach Vicente del Bosque.

"There was a moment at the start of the second half when they had a chance or two but otherwise we were as good in defence as we were in attack."

"In the first 45 minutes we didn't have a single problem. All in all we were far superior."

"You don't know if that's down to your own qualities or perhaps the opposition being timid but I think the way we played the ball and positioned ourselves on the field was very good."