and the floodlights are shining down on the players here in the spanish capital of madrid
we're at saber bay i'm derek ray joined here in the commentary position as always by lee
dixon and this is where it all starts in the uefa champions league the group stage and match day one
my goodness so much to look forward to it's real madrid facing leicester city while the first group
stage in the champions league is always exciting three points it's vital for both teams to get off
to a good start or a draw may be a good result as well we're about to find out what happens
so and here's the starting eleven for real madrid tebow courtois begins in goal marcelo starts with
carvajal as full backs luka modric plays with casemiro in the center of the pitch
and leading the line today robert lewandowski
here's how leicester city will line up it's almost interesting to try to sum up a team's style of
play their approach um there are many who think that it's overly conservative in this case what do
you think lee well derek it's not my preferred way of playing that's for sure but horses for courses
is fine until you concede do they have a plan b if that happens i'm not too sure
modric david alaba in possession marcelo and room now out on the flank
well he didn't miss by very much as all
james madison he might be able to profit from the wide position
strong play here on the shielding front
vardy can he give them the advantage and a goal that is a very bright start perfect way to open
well here it is again he does so well to slip past his man left him stranded and it all leads
to a 2v1 on the keeper which he really doesn't have any chance with it's a great team goal
so real restart the game disappointed to have conceded can they find an equalizer
tony course in possession marcelo
modric
keeping the ball moving well read to win possession back
look at modric and they've won possession again
already pressing their opponents while keeping hold of the ball is what it's all about for them
throwings given
themselves in a position of menace
of course now casemiro
cleared away comprehensively
barney now ianacha evans
now indeedy can he keep his composure and it's in beyond the goalkeeper real
well as we madrid again here the damages started with a beauty of a through ball
and he had choices of what type of finish to apply and bang he goes for the smash lovely
goal
well the earlier goal canceled out what a piece
fiance
tony course this is robert lewandowski modric given away by real madrid
use of the ball tilamans casimiro his pass gobbled up madison
and here's vardy well the defending needed to be a bit more switched on than that
marcelo lewandowski failed to keep hold of it well the electronic board
showing one additional minute well nothing productive really
now they're on the scent of something positive
can they forge ahead they do and you've got to say they're good value for the lead
well as we see this again derek it's easy to be critical
and i'll stress i've never been a goalkeeper but surely he's got to do better than that
his mistake leads to the goal no doubt about it
well all the hard work has paid off but the
manager knows a lot more has to be done to secure this game
and the first half is in the history books here at the bernabeu
well his manager will be delighted with him he's been spot on in this game hasn't he
energy imagination desire and a steely determination
and so the second half of this champions league group stage match day one contest commences
indeedy evans here's tilamans
now indeedy fiona nacho
tilamans johnny evans with it here nacho
determined defending not showing good defensive judgments
well he thwarted him almost effortlessly
well real have not had too much of the ball but to their credit they've been
absolutely blistering on the counter attack they just sit back hit you on the break and it's
really working for this team did look as though they might be onto something for a second or so
and 30 minutes left for play in this match
tilamans
indeedy
the ball back with real now
indeed
the net is steering him in the face and he's made it to brace for himself
the defender is just unable to stay with him and he's having a field day
well as we look at this again the keepers every right to ask where his back line was but
2v1 in the end he's thinking now is he going to pass or go around he's got no chance
well enjoy the good days as a coach he could be a roller coaster ride i can tell you that
well that's a tale of four goals in this match now three one it is
so 20 minutes to go james madison and he read it well
casimiro
he's got to have a go here and the keeper not really taxed by that long-range shot
well he's lost the ball
david alaba
has it now what can they do to stop him running at them and no problems whatsoever for the goalkeeper
he's in with a chance
can he finish his third goal of the match and you cannot
argue with that well he's tearing this defense apart they can't cope with him
well let's see the replay and look at the pace at which the counter attack happens
and he had choices of what type of finish to apply and bang he goes for the smash lovely goal
well if there were any lingering doubts about the outcome surely they now have been removed
well he got too much space and he thought why not why not shoot from here
so two minutes of stoppage time to be added on tilamans
didi in behind for him to chase promising attack but his timing was off
courtois and there is the full-time whistle real madrid pick up all three points in this the
opening match in the champions league 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