Real Madrid 1 - Steaua Bucharest 0

Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Iván Helguera, Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos; Diarra (Beckham 58'), Emerson; Raúl, Guti, Robinho (Reyes 86'); Van Nistelrooy (Ronaldo 75'). 4-2-3-1.
Steaua: Cernea; Stancu, Ghionea (Therau 78'), Goian, Marin; Nicolita, Paraschiv, Petre, Oprita (Coman 84'); Dica; Badea (Lovin 78'). 4-4-1-1.

Goals:
1-0. 71. Nicolita (own goal). Passed back to keeper who wasn't there.

Real Madrid join Valencia in the last sixteen after a 1-0 victory over Steaua Bucharest, although it was not their best performance and they only took the three points thanks to an own goal. The Romanian side showed much better form than at their own ground two weeks ago, with Badea wasting an early chance to put his side ahead, and Cernea was only troubled by a double effort from Van Nistelrooy before the break.

Fabio Capello's side improved after the break, Robinho having a penalty appeal turned down, Diarra shooting wide and Iván Helguera somehow putting the ball over the crossbar after Sergio Ramos set him up a yard away from goal.

However with twenty minutes to go Nicolita passed back to his keeper without checking he was there, and the ball rolled in to the empty net. Van Nistelrooy should have wrapped things up a few minutes later when the keeper brought down the striker in the area, but he fired his spot kick way off target. It didn't matter though, as Olympique Lyon's victory against Dynamo Kiev in the other group match means that both they and Madrid are qualified.