Gerrard Houllier’s French Champions played like ‘galaticos’ champions as they humiliated Real Madrid (2-0) in their opening group stage match at mid-week.

Govou, Fred, Pernambucano, and Malouda reminded the world of their own star-form and put on an energetic and hungry display that proved to hard a test for Capello, new Madrid manager, to pass.

Pernembucho kept Madrid on edge with a number of superb of free-kicks throughout the game. However, it was his defense-splitting long ball in the 1st half that found fellow Brazilian, Fred in open space on goal. Cannavaro showed his lack of match fitness as Fred beat him out and fired past Casillas into the Madrid goal.

Pernambucano then hit a long-range scorcher that Casillas tried to punch clear. Govou picked up the ball just outside the penalty area, chipping coolly past the caught-out and diving Roberto Carlos, for Tiago to slot the ball past Casillas at the far post.

You couldn’t really blame the defensive lapses of Cannavaro and Carlos because the overall play from Real Madrid was shoddy at best. Raul and Cassano failed to impress, and Van Nistelrooy as the lone striker resembled nothing of the goal-scoring Real Madrid of old. Not to mention, the double defensive midfield of Emerson and new signing, ex-Lyon player, Diarra, it was not apparent what formula Capello was trying to implement in his new squad.

It was until the 2nd half with the introduction of Guti and Robinho could get anything like a playing rhythm in order, but by then the game had already past, and Madrid are left with the same old question that has plagued the club in recent years—why can’t we just perform?

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 17th, 2006 at 1:59 am and is filed under Soccer World, Rick Wall (Head Editor), Champions League. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.