Real shock as Galacticos fall to earth

BAYER LEVERKUSEN started their Champions League campaign with a shock 3-0 win over a sluggish Real Madrid in Group B of the Champions’ League last night.

Leverkusen outplayed the nine-times European champions to gain a measure of revenge for a 2-1 defeat by the Spanish side in the 2002 final.

Real Madrid, who have won only once in 19 visits to Germany over the years, looked ordinary despite the presence of all their top players.

A stylish performance ensured the German team ended a seven-game losing streak in the competition.

Poland midfielder Jacek Krzynowek put them in the lead with a powerful shot from 25 metres on 39 minutes.

Brazilian forward Franca doubled the advantage from the edge of the box five minutes into the second half and Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov completed the victory from close range five minutes later.

Elsewhere, Juventus playmaker Pavel Nedved scored the only goal as his hard-working side beat Ajax Amsterdam 1-0 in their opening Group C match.

Nedved gave Juve the lead three minutes before halftime with a delightful chip into the top corner with the outside of his right foot after being set up by Mauro Camoranesi who was fed by a delicate chipped pass from Alessandro Del Piero.

Ajax striker Wesley Sonck almost scored in the first few minutes as he crashed a swerving 25yd drive against the bar but it was not until the half-hour mark that Gianluigi Buffon was tested again in saving from Romania forward Nicolae Mitea.

Ajax battled gamely after the break but Fabio Capello’s side worked extremely hard to deny them any space and held on to the lead provided by Nedved’s 26th goal in European competition to get off to a winning start.

In the same group, Bayern Munich scored a welcome away win to Maccabi Tel Aviv thanks to a Roy Makaay penalty in the 64th minute.

In Spain, Shelbourne’s conquerors, Deportivo la Coruna, continued their disappointing start to the season when they were held to a 0-0 draw by a streetwise Olympiakos in their opening Group A match.

Last season’s semi-finalists, who were dealt a shock 3-1 defeat by Osasuna in the Spanish league on Sunday and who are in Liverpool’s group, turned in a nerve-riddled performance and were fortunate not to have gone into the break at least a goal down.

For Olympiakos, the draw broke a run of eight successive away defeats and enabled them to start with a valuable point.

Olympiakos forward Rivaldo went close with a spectacular overhead kick after 15 minutes and another former Depor player, Gabriel Schurrer, was only denied a goal when keeper Jose Molina produced a fine save to smother his close range shot soon after.

Deportivo finally found their rhythm after the break when they dominated possession but looked short of ideas and never really threatened to break down the rugged Olympiakos defence who gave an authoritative display throughout.

The Champions League Group B match between AS Roma and Dynamo Kiev was abandoned after Swedish referee Anders Frisk was hit by an object thrown from the stands.

The match was called off after a 40-minute delay following the incident which occurred just after Frisk blew for halftime, moments after he had sent off Roma defender Philippe Mexes.

The Frenchman had kicked out at Kiev striker Maris Verpakovskis as he went to gather the ball.

Frisk judged the action to be intentional and showed him a red card and was subsequently hit by a missile thrown from the stands.

Ukraine’s Kiev led 1-0 at halftime with a goal on 29 minutes from Goran Gavrancic.

In Manchester United’s Group D, Fenerbahce scored a 1-0 home win over Sparta Prague thanks to a Pierre von Hooijdonk goal in the 16th minute.