Real matadors make mince meat out of Manchester United

Ever-reliable striker Raul fired defending champions Real Madrid to the verge of the champions league semi-finals, scoring twice in an end to end 3-1 win over Manchester United at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

United coach Sir Alex Ferguson had opined before the start that this clash of the continent's super heavyweights was an even bigger encounter than those at a world cup.

A look at the real teamsheet proved him right - and so did the result as the Spanish matadors threatened to batter the English premiership giants all the way back to Manchester, where now Ferguson's men have to undo the damage in the second leg.

Three seasons ago, when United were the title holders, Real made the initial mistake of coming out of the blocks too passively in the opening home leg and had to settle for a goalless draw. But they then shattered United by winning 3-2, helped by a Roy Keane own goal, at old Trafford.

This time the 'Meringues' delighted a 75,000 home crowd as they turned on the style associated with a team that can put world cup winners Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Zinedine Zidane on the same club teamsheet.

Add Raul, Luis Figo and Fernando Hierro to the mix and the world eleven that Ferguson had privately perhaps almost feared toyed with his men - at times with almost embarrassing ease.

After United had made the brighter start Zidane fed Figo nonchalantly for a brilliant opener on 12 minutes, a curling effort sweeping over Fabien Barthez's head in the United goal.