Real threw caution to the wind to earn win, says Schuster

Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster said his team had thrown caution to the wind and taken too many risks in order to come from behind to beat 10-man Olympiakos 4-2 at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

"Until we went 3-2 up we had to risk everything for the win," said Schuster. "Then we were unable to put the brakes on and control the game."

"It was a real struggle for us to get ahead on the scoreboard and once we did we kept taking risks and were living dangerously, although at least we were able to get the fourth goal."

"Our youth and lack of experience showed out there today because we were fielding a very young side tonight."

"We suffered too much and showed how to complicate a game, but we also showed the character to get out of it. We did a lot of things wrong, but we have to learn from these sorts of games."

Skipper Raul gave Real an early lead but a lively Olympiakos equalised almost immediately and, although defender Vassilis Torosidis was sent off in the 13th minute, the Greek side went ahead at the start of the second half through Julio Cesar.

Real struggled to make their numerical advantage pay and it was not until Robinho sparked into life in the second half that they got back in the match.

The Brazilian scored twice goal, earned a penalty that was missed by Ruud van Nistelrooy, and set up an injury-time strike for substitute Javier Balbao to help Real to an exciting win that put them in charge of Group C.

Olympiakos coach Panagiotis Lemonis said that although he was disappointed by the result he was delighted with the spirit shown by his side after the early sending off.

"I felt we could have got something more from this game," he said. "I'm not sure we deserved this result. We demonstrated a great attitude."

"I've got no magic wand, but I've felt from the beginning of the season that the attitude was right and that the new players who've joined us are all really keen to succeed."