it truly is a special place a stadium every football fan should visit should he or she get the
chance the santiago bernabeu here in madrid i'm derek ray and i'm joined here on the gantry for
commentary by stuart robson and we've got so much to look forward to this is where it all begins
in europe's premier club competition the uefa champions league the group stage match day one
action how do you see the match going stuart well thanks derek this should be a tight group so it's
vital these teams get off to a good start here this should be a very competitive game tonight
and here's the starting eleven for real madrid thibault courtois begins in goal fedor mendy
plays with carvajal in the fullback positions tony course starts with casimiro in the center
of the pitch and the main goal scoring threat provided today by kareem benzema
this is how the visitors will set up today which shenzhen between the posts
matthijs the least plays alongside leonardo bonucci in central defense
juan cuadrado starts with federico on the flanks and the main striker today is morata
it's the opening match day champions league group stage match day one underway
and a poor ball good looking pass
now they're on the scent of something positive
well the keeper has outdone himself wonderful save
he's tripping in the corner and clears his lines
madrich well driving magnificently to make sure he got there
trying to deliver it accurately punching it clear
firing us in oh commanding goalkeeping
well so close to seeing an early goal here it's a great save you have to say
another successful intervention winning the ball back a foul it most certainly was free-kick given
well disappointing end to the move
this looks threatening vinicius
and whipped into the box
and giving the ball away
federico modric spot on
look they couldn't take advantage of the opportunity
superb defensive judgment to end the attack
well no stopping him well slightly off target and that'll be a throw in
pressure exerted but he keeps the ball not a great pass
can they hit on the break
tony course space on the flank in possession to give them the lead maybe
a goal one nil a fully deserved advantage based on what we've seen
well as you can see this is absolutely brilliant he's such
a good runner with the ball and it's a great individual goal brilliant from him
so underway again here one nil to score
crossing opportunity
locately rabiot
morata well tremendous block
and he saw the situation developing
dibala really is obsessed with taking the game to the opposition but can they
produce from here oh tremendous goalkeeping but hang on offside as the decision here
there you can see real madrid haven't been able to control possession but when they have had it
they've looked so dangerous particularly when they press high up the field win the
ball back in those areas and then counter attack quickly well that's how to put in a clean tackle
well the stoppage time situation one minute here federico is up now rabio
plenty of players waiting in the middle look really vital interception
and that is that half time here on the spanish capital
this man will get most of the plaudits for his contribution up to this point stuart
well i thought he had a really effective first half not only did he get the goal
that gave him the lead but his general play was really good he was a constant
threat and i'm sure we'll see more of him in the second half
and so the second half of this champions league group stage match day one contest commences
david alaba
karma the ball was luka modric
mendy modric
now with benzema
oh moving it nicely using all his defensive acumen to cut it out
federico and breaking at pace with menace and it looked like open road for them but up a dead end
dybala and a good-looking ball podrado dybala well not the bars he had in mind
and unable to pick out a teammate and that'll be a throw so making the substitution now
dybala
oh that's an interesting pass just couldn't capitalize there
tony course
he's in with a chance well we like to call things as we see them stewart and i must say
he's got that one horribly wrong well it's a poor decision in the end it's way off target
20 minutes to go no space for them here
and routine for the keeper and the end across far too close to him
casemiro
and across the touch line so a throw in here
modric
could cross it in here will he find the net and it's in real madrid firmly in charge here
well here's the replay and what a well-delivered cross this is perfectly placed
and then what a great finish as well good connection with the ball
leaving the keeper with little chance it's a great goal
well a second goal for them here
benzema casemiro rodrigo take it away
just 10 minutes remaining here well he's thwarted him almost
effortlessly and it will be a free kick to real madrid substitution time as is
casimiro very quick thinking there
locately moist keen now can they counter clinically
the ball with kieza is it going to be
benzema well taking into account all the stoppages two minutes to be added on
still not clear
danger reverse it for now so full time it is under morale boosting three points on the board to begin
the european campaign yeah it's so vital to get off to a quick start in these group stages they'll
be happy with the three points but now they have to back it up in the next game six points and
you're halfway there well we all know what tony course can do we watch and all as he goes about
his business but trying to stop him can be so difficult stuart well it's a good performance
he worked hard played well and scored a goal and he's team one what more could you ask for