Champions League

Arsenal 0 - Real Madrid 0

Arsenal: Lehmann; Eboué, Toure, Senderos, Flamini; Cesc Fábregas, Gilberto Silva; Hleb (Bergkamp 86'), Ljungberg, Reyes (Pires 70'); Henry. 4-2-3-1.
Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado (Robinho 83'), Sergio Ramos, Raúl Bravo, Roberto Carlos; Gravesen (Baptista 70'); Beckham, Guti, Raúl (Cassano 73'), Zidane; Ronaldo. 4-1-4-1.

Goals: None.

Real Madrid are out of the competition after failing to score in 180 minutes against Arsenal. López Caro's side needed at least one goal after their 0-1 defeat in the first leg, and the coach put out a full strength line up, Raúl coming in for his first start following a three month injury lay-off and Ronaldo being preferred to Cassano up front despite his recent lack of form. The Brazilian striker did go close a couple of times early on, first with a header which Lehmann saved and then another attack which Gilberto cut out, but after that he faded and was hardly seen again.

The Gunners got a grip of the game after that though, Senderos heading wide and the two Spaniards Cesc and Reyes both trying their luck. And with a couple of minutes to go to half time they should have been in the lead when Reyes fired a shot against the crossbar after Henry set him up. Play went up the other end though, and only some brave defending prevented Zidane from getting a shot on target.

Beckham had been suffering throughout the game from recurring back pains which he aggravated in the pre-match warm up, but he did his best to catch Lehmann off his line with a long free kick soon after the restart. The best chance for the visitors though came on the hour mark when Raúl crashed a shot against the upright, the German keeper reacting quickly enough to turn his follow up shot past the post.

Now it was Arsenal's turn, and Henry brought a good save out of Casillas before shooting wide again soon afterwards. Madrid were getting frantic though, and with Casillas in the opposing penalty area for a corner, Roberto Carlos had to clear a long effort from Pires off the line with the keeper chasing madly back. López Caro's last throw of the dice was to bring on Robinho, and he brought a good save out of Lehmann in injury time. But there was no way through, and Madrid go home empty handed with a third trophy-less season staring them in the face. New president Fernando Martín has some work to do.