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 my name is derrick
ray with me in the commentary boxes arsenal legend lee dixon
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 it's real madrid
facing well thank you derek with being big favorites complacency can be a problem you've
got to use that to your advantage you're playing a home side as expected to go through can they put
the pressure on in the first 20 minutes and hold out and then try nick the game in the second half
and here's the starting 11 for real madrid tebow courtois begins in goal tony course starts with
casemiro in the center of the pitch and the lead striker today is karen benzema
this is the lineup for the visitors today really well balanced this formation lee yeah it can
be a 4-2-3-1 in the offensive mode but it can also go back to a 4-5-1 when you're defending
the lone striker will be supported by the three just behind him
especially the number 10 will be given a free roll
tony
azar in possession marcelo karim benzema
well they couldn't keep it
a player you simply cannot take your eyes off midfield strategist luka modric lee what sort of
display do you think we'll see from modric as far as this game is concerned well if i'm a teammate
of this lad i want to get the ball to him as often as i can because he's a safe pair of hands giving
the ball normally something happens the link up play between the different departments of the team
is second to none great chance with that header but he sent it wide to the post well it's quite
easy to head that one over the bar this time he just gets his angles wrong just past the post
it might be on for them
and they all come away with it he's got the right idea with that pass
another task is to remain focused and thumped away
and you need your defender to take charge well huge noise being made by the real madrid fans
the momentum is definitely with them oh nice ball over the top to chase
and a chance for them to nudge in front what a high quality stop it was
well look at the speed he sets himself derrick he gets ready and makes a really good save
and over comes the corner
he's been admonished by the referee he's now got to walk something of a tightrope yeah he
knows exactly where he stands look at the referee how he's told him off there no yellow card but
certainly knows what the referee's thinking and the spot kick is converted as coolly as you like
we'll see it again here it looks easy doesn't it i can tell you it isn't i'm telling you now
let's have another view of that goal
well the manager's showing signs of frustration they need to improve if
they're gonna get something out of this game derek
the opening goal of the game then
slip short passing
well the chance looked to be on but found himself offside
bale
well read to win possession back
as you can see the visitors don't have too much of the ball but they won't mind they're
winning this game and why because their counter attack is absolutely fantastic
taking care of business defensively here
bale
well the keeper had a lot of ground to cover splendid save
a big chance to get level the crowd are going nuts
and firing it into the area straightforward take
benzema dangerous looking through ball and it's in beyond the goalkeeper real madrid
well here's the replay it's a lovely time pass over a static defense
but then there's plenty to do from there he's hit it so well
lots of pace lots of power and the keeper just can't react in time great strike
even steven won a piece on this match
go
did well to win the ball back
can they forge ahead from this corner kick let's see not to be candid aiden azar has
been a long way from his best not really making the impact that we anticipated before a ball
was kicked in angrily well it's strange he's almost a bystander at times he never looked to
get in the right position as you can see he's certainly not picking the ball up in the rock
punched away by the keeper and the first half is in the history books here at the bernabeu
dominant first half display from tony cross in this game
well there's never a bad time to score a goal but just before half time can be crucial
and he's and so the second half of this champions league group stage match day one contest commences
benzema
in possession marcelo karim benzema
just the clearance that was called for could be a chance to break here
you've got to keep the ball a bit better than that
benzema
in possession marcelo karim benzema well when you sit off like this you invite pressure
running with the ball confidently
and it's played into the center smuggled away amber inside the final 30 minutes
can he finish for good effort but he's placed it wide
well they've been getting the substitute ready and now they will make the personnel change
a good and fair challenge
he makes a catch
well here's the replay it's a really lovely drew ball and he chooses to use power in the finish not
much chance for the keeper when he's hit that hard on the goal again albeit from a different angle
well all the hard work has paid off but the manager knows a lot
more has to be done to secure this game as they kick off again 2-1 the current state of affairs
over the touch line for a throw-in
so 20 minutes to go
tony course
azar
given away by real madrid
and here's marlos and you need your defender to take charge
and the short option preferred the chances on
can they hit on the break good looking ball there could be a chance now
to keep the ball
marlos on the attack in the closing phase gotcha
under no real pressure
well it must be really great for the real madrid players to hear this crowd
they've really helped them in this game so far not long to see it out now
bale and he's through here just cleared away in the nick of time
just cutting off the supply
the referee has decided there will be just one minute of added time
good pass lucas vasquez maiden azar waiting to pass and that's it for tonight's full time
and an encouraging start for them three points from the initial fixture lee yeah really really
strong start that's what you need but with five games to go very important you stay in the now
one game at a time derek bit of a cliche certainly did what was asked of him this evening gareth bale
lee dixon well he's always a danger isn't he no more so when he grabbed
that goal he never disappoints me when i watch him he's just too good simple