Real get campaign moving with 5-1 rout of Kiev

Real Madrid got their Champions League campaign moving with a convincing 5-1 drubbing of a ragged Dynamo Kiev at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.

First-half goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy, Raul and Jose Antonio Reyes put Real firmly in the driving seat of the Group E game as the visitors struggled to find their rhythm.

Although Dynamo pulled one back through striker Artem Milevsky at the start of the second half, Raul made it 4-1 with his 53rd Champions League goal just after the hour mark.

Things went from bad to worse for the Ukrainians nine minutes later when Van Nistelrooy notched his second from the penalty spot after he was brought down by keeper Olexander Shovkovsky, who received a red card for his troubles.

Both teams were in dire need of the win after losing their opening games, Real having gone down 2-0 to Olympique Lyon and Dynamo suffering their worst home defeat in 12 years when they were crushed 4-1 by former European champions Steaua Bucharest.

Real were given an early scare when Dynamo striker Maksim Shatskikh found himself in the clear, but keeper Iker Casillas managed to whip the ball away from his feet.

The chance sparked Real into life and, after several long-distance efforts, Van Nistelrooy gave them the lead in the 20th minute, poking the ball into an empty net after Shovkovsky had spilled a fierce drive from Roberto Carlos.

The former Manchester United striker, who became a father in the early hours of Tuesday morning, marked the goal with the usual rocking-the-cradle celebration.

Dynamo were still reeling from the blow when Raul broke his goal drought to make it 2-0 with his first goal in a Real shirt since October 26 last year.

Reyes, who was in the starting line-up at the expense of David Beckham for a third game in a row, swept in a great cross from the right and the Real skipper ghosted in at the far post to send a header flying past the helpless Shovkovsky.

Although Real were somewhat shaky in defence, they looked dangerous every time they pushed forward and it came as no surprise when Reyes made it 3-0 with a beautifully struck half-volley in added time at the end of the first half.

Real appeared to lose concentration at the start of the second half and Dynamo took advantage to pull back a goal two minutes after the restart.

Casillas blocked a low shot from midfielder Carlos Correa and Milevsky was on hand to drill the ball past the Real keeper.

But Raul made it 4-1 with his second when he skipped round Shovkovsky and steered into an empty net after pouncing on a defensive error by Gavrancic.

Van Nistelrooy completed the rout 20 minutes from time when he netted from the spot, having been brought down by Shovkovsky after being put through by Guti.