Virtual rout by Real

Luis Figo curled in a spectacular opener and Raul struck two virtuoso goals to lead Real Madrid to a 3-1 win over Manchester United in a spa...

Luis Figo curled in a spectacular opener and Raul struck two virtuoso goals to lead Real Madrid to a 3-1 win over Manchester United in a sparkling Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.

Real outclassed their opponents on a night the English side will quickly want to forget.

The Spaniards, superior throughout, will be strong favourites to book a semi-final place against Juventus or Barcelona, but they may yet have cause to regret a 52nd minute reply from Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Van Nistelrooy, United8217;s sole attacking threat, headed in from close range after Iker Casillas had palmed away a Ryan Giggs effort.

The Dutchman8217;s 11th Champions League goal of the campaign, a record for an individual season, gave United a lifeline to take back to Old Trafford in two weeks8217; time.

Alex Ferguson8217;s side scarcely to deserve to still be in the tie after what was a shambolic display.

United did create a couple of chances, Paul Scholes forcing a low save from Iker Casillas with a snap shot and Ruud van Nistelrooy going just over with an overhead kick, but the opening goal robbed them of every sap of confidence.

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There seemed to be little danger when Figo collected a short pass from Zinedine Zidane on the left in the 12th minute and shuffled a couple of steps infield.

The Portuguese midfielder spotted that Fabien Barthez was slightly out of position, however, and sent in a wickedly curling shot that crept in at the far corner past the Frenchman8217;s outstretched hand.

Real should have been awarded a penalty when Wes Brown bundled over Ronaldo in the area on 19 minutes but the home side did not have to wait too much longer for the second.

Zidane was again the provider, slipping a pass through to Raul on the edge of the area. The Spanish international forward fooled Rio Ferdinand with a backward feint and turned to drill a shot in at the near post. United were indeed in a deeper mess soon after the restart.

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Figo, advancing menacingly down the right once again, cut the ball back for Raul to fire a shot through a crowd of defenders and make it 3-0 to Real with his 43rd Champions League goal.

United were staring at a humiliating defeat but to their credit they tore forward and were rewarded within three minutes when Van Nistelrooy headed in after Giggs had taken a Neville cross and forced a save from Casillas. Real had several chances to restore their three-goal lead but Roberto Carlos, Raul and Figo all fired wide from good positions goal. Reuters