Gift goal puts Real on way

REAL MADRID booked their place in the next round of the Champions League, but they needed a farcical own goal from Banel Nicolita to see off battling Steaua Bucharest.

Real had been unable to break down a resilient Steaua backline themselves but were gifted the only goal of the game by a horrendous error from Nicolita 20 minutes from time.

Steaua goalkeeper Cornel Cernea had moved away from his goal to receive the back pass but Nicolita, with no Real player anywhere near him, inexplicably rolled the ball back towards goal and into the unguarded net.