Real fight for Champions League final

Real Madrid are fighting to get the Santiago Bernabeu in shape if they are to succeed in their bid to host the 2003 Champions League final.

The Merengues have put in a bid to hold the prestigious final to UEFA but they have just two months to convince the European footballing body that the Bernabeu is up to the job. Real want to hold the final in what will be their centenary year but also in the running are Manchester United's Old Trafford and the Amsterdam Arena.

The Madrilenos have spent the summer tearing out old facilities and installing state-of-the-art new ones at the Bernabeu in the hope that they can bring the 54-year-old stadium up to scratch in time to impress UEFA's Executive Committee.

The decision will be made on December 12th and 13th although Spanish daily 'As' has disclosed that Real have a strong chance of success - but first they would need to amplify the seating capacity to 78,000 and make car park provisions for 700 vehicles.