Real Madrid 3 - Manchester United 1

Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Hierro, Iván Helguera, Roberto Carlos; Makelele, Flavio Conceiçao; Figo, Raúl, Zidane; Ronaldo (Guti 83'). 4-2-3-1.
Manchester United: Barthez; Gary Neville (Solksjaer 86'), Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre (O'Shea 58'); Keane, Butt; Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Van Nistelrooy. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 12. Figo. Took Zidane pass and curled shot over Barthez from wide on left.
2-0. 28. Raúl. Turned on Zidane through ball and fired low shot past Barthez.
3-0. 49. Raúl. Controlled Figo square pass and beat keeper from outside of area.
3-1. 52. Van Nistelrooy. Close up header after Casillas pushed out shot from Giggs.

The match between Real Madrid and Manchester United lived up to it's star billing, with the Spanish side running out 3-1 winners in an action packed ninety minutes. Both sides lined up with their best possible starting elevens, with only the injured Verón (and possibly Blanc?) missing for the visitors. However it was Madrid who held centre stage for much of the game, inspired by a brilliant Zidane who commanded the midfield, ably assisted by Makelele, Figo and Raúl.

Del Bosque's side got off to the best possible start, Figo opening the scoring in the twelfth minute, catching Barthez off guard with a curling shot from out on the left wing. The English side were lucky to be let off a penalty appeal soon afterwards when Brown brought down Ronaldo, and referee Anders Frisk also failed to penalize Barthez when he handled the ball outside of the area.

United had their chances though as well, the best of which was a long shot from Scholes which Casillas kept out, and another effort from Van Nistelrooy over the bar. But with half an hour on the clock Roberto Carlos won the ball in the Manchester half, and Zidane found Raúl with a first time pass for him to turn his marker and score.

Four minutes after the restart Raúl was there again to pick up a pass from Figo and make it three, and a big score appeared to be on the cards. However three minutes later Gary Neville swung in a cross from the right, and although Casillas got a hand to Giggs' shot, Van Nistelrooy was there to head in to the empty net. It was his eleventh of the competition, which is a new record.

For a few minutes the visitors looked like scoring again, with Beckham and Gary Neville putting good chances wide and Casillas saving from a Van Nistelrooy scissors kick, but Madrid rallied round and Ronaldo could have increased their lead if his shot had been on target after a magnificent team move.

It all sets up an enthralling second leg in Old Trafford in a fortnight's time, but the European champions must now be favourites to go through, especially with Scholes and Gary Neville missing for United after picking up yellow cards during the game.