Real’s octavo in Champions League

Forward Fernando Morientes capped a spell of domination by Real with a slick 39th-minute header at the left post after the temperamental French striker Nicolas Anelka had raised early visions of a goal with a powerful header from the top of the box.

Argentine Fernando Redondo and the hardworking Englishman Steve McManaman provided the fillip to the midfield as Real overran Valencia with two more strikes in the second half to set aside a disappointing season in the Spanish league.

McManaman cemented the lead in the 67th minute with an old-fashioned scissors kick to the right corner, past a flailing Valencia custodian Santiago Canizares before Raul sealed the issue in the 75th minute.

Raul sprinted about 60 metres down the middle as Redondo sent him on his way with a long ball as Valencia attacked as one, side-stepped Canizares and tapped the ball in leaving no chance to the chasing defender.

First-time finalists Valencia, who had stunned Italian league champions Lazio and Catalan giants Barcelona to make it a Spanish night at the venue of the 1998 World Cup final, set much by the prowess of their Argentine striker Claudio Lopez.

But the first ever meeting between teams from the same country in the 45-year-old championship was completely dominated by Vincente del Bosque’s team whose defence also stood out with the left-wing flair of Brazilian Roberto Carlos complemented by the long-haired Ivan Campo on the right.

The young and energetic Valencians, brimming with enthusiasm, started well but gradually faded away as Real took charge. Canizares summed it all up: “Madrid played with a ferocious defence and took advantage of their quality forwards”.

Real gave their fans, chanting `Octavo’ (eighth time) cheer early in the fast-paced first half when Anelka, who has endured an uneasy relationship with the team management but emerged the hero for his semifinal exploits against Germany’s Bayern Munich, fired the first salvo.

Anelka sent goalward a powerful header off a Raul cross from the left edge of the box, but Canizares brought off a fine save and MacManaman’s attempt was just guided wide by the goalkeeper.

— PRESS TRUST OF INDIA