Real too strong for plucky Partizan

Real Madrid 1 Partizan Belgrade 0

David Beckham continued to win the hearts and minds of the Real Madrid faithful with another stylish performance in their 1-0 win over Partizan Belgrade here on Wednesday.

Beckham picked up a first half booking but more than atoned with the corner that led to Raul scoring Madrid’s goal and with a brave block of a goal-bound Ljubinko Drulovic volley in a rare Partizan raid.

However, he did end the game with a limp, probably an aggravation of the muscle strain that at one stage had him in doubt for the game.

With Beckham seemingly having shaken off that thigh injury over the previous 24 hours, Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz was able to announce an unchanged side to that which won 2-0 in Vigo last weekend.

At his pre-match press conference Queiroz stressed he had no reason to rest players while Madrid’s place in the second round of the Champions League was still not assured.

And, true to his word, Beckham was partnered by Ivan Helguera in the centre of the park.

From the start it was clear Beckham had found a ready ally in left back Roberto Carlos as Madrid dominated for 45 minutes.

As early as the third minute, the Brazilian found space on the left and was able to test Djordje Pantic with a long range effort.

Next Beckham picked him out with a short corner only for the defender to dither, before on 10 minutes a free-kick, obviously worked out on the training pitch, saw Beckham hit the ball deep from the right for his team-mate to volley wide.

Raul and Luis Figo had further chances while a Tomasz Rzasa cross which bisected the Madrid penalty area was Partizan’s only response.

Beckham picked up a booking on 22 minutes as he slid in on Sasa Ilic but almost atoned two minutes later with a free-kick that skirted the Partizan wall and shaved the far post.

The Serbo-Montenegrins, playing five at the back supported by two defensive midfielders, limited Madrid to a string of half chances.

Pantic saved from Ronaldo with his legs, Zidane just failed to reach a raking Beckham pass, Raul missed a Roberto Carlos cross and Pantic then claimed the full back’s lob.

The home fans protested wildly after 39 minutes when a Roberto Carlos shot appeared to strike a defender’s arm.

There was no penalty, but from the resulting corner, Beckham found Figo who headed goalwards and Raul, hovering on the goalline and seemingly offside, got the vital touch.

At half time, Queiroz replaced Francisco Pavon with Guti and pushed Helguera back into defence to give Madrid more creativity in midfield, and within minutes Raul and Roberto Carlos got shots on target.

Beckham temporarily filled in at right back while Michel Salgado had treatment and saved an almost certain goal when he blocked Drulovic’s fierce volley.

Pantic denied Beckham after he had intercepted in midfield and to metres to collect Ronaldo’s return pass, but Madrid fell into their old habit of easing off, sensing that the game was already in the bag.

But still they created chances.

Ronaldo shaved the post and had a shot saved, while Figo hit a free kick just wide and saw Pantic save again after a neat Beckham pass in the Partizan area.

However, Madrid failed to kill their opponents off and were made to suffer some anxious moments in the closing stages.