Numancia 3 - Real Madrid 1

Numancia: Alvaro Nuñez; Manel, Muñiz, Soria, David Pirri; Iñaki (Tito 85'), Pacheta, Nagore, José Manuel; Rosu (Ojeda 67'), Rubén Navarro (Barbu 77'). 4-4-2.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Geremi, Iván Helguera, Hierro, Roberto Carlos; Figo, Makelele (Morientes 67'), McManaman, Savio (Munitis 67'); Guti, Raúl. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Numancia: Pacheta, Rosu for Jaume, Marini / Madrid: Iván Helguera, McManaman, Savio for Karanka, Sanchís, Munitis.

Goals:
1-0. 07. Rosu. Header on the near post after free kick from Iñaki.
1-1. 14. Raúl. Headed down past keeper after curling cross from Savio on left.
2-1. 15. Rosu. Ran on to through ball from midfield and scored with first touch.
3-1. 65. Rosu. Controlled with right and shot with left after Navarro touched on.

Numancia beat Real Madrid for the first time in their history in a remarkable match at the Pajaritos stadium in Soria. The home team manager Paco Herrera decided late in the day to include Romanian international Rosu in his attack rather than Ojeda, and it was probably one of the best decisions of his career. Starting for the first time for his new club, he took his opportunity to perfection, scoring three goals against a stunned Real Madrid side before being substituted with twenty minutes to go. And he did it against a first class Madrid defence, Vicente Del Bosque putting together two current Spanish internationals Fernando Hierro and Iván Helguera in the heart of his back four to make room in midfield for Steve McManaman to come in for his first start of the season.

Numancia wanted to prove that their draw at Barcelona's Nou Camp three days ago was not a fluke, and they came out playing simple but effective football. Within seven minutes they were in front, Rosu rising to head home Iñaki's free kick from the right, the ball hitting Geremi in it's flight putting off Casillas. Madrid came back, and Raúl levelled the scores with a header from Savio's cross down into the ground which bounced past the keeper. This was the striker's first goal against the Sorian side, and he has now scored at least once against every club in the first division. Straight from the kick off Numancia came forward in a move which began with Rosu, and with the Madrid defence watching he ran on to Iñaki's through pass to slot the ball past Casillas. Although Madrid had most of the possession after that, they were unable to break down a well disciplined defence, Figo on his 28th birthday unable to do much on the smallest pitch in the first division.

By now the visiting players were arguing amongst themselves, with Hierro and Roberto Carlos discussing who should have marked Rosu for the first goal, Figo blaming Geremi for the second, and Makelele and McManaman unsure who should be going forward and who staying back. While this was going on Numancia got their third, Rubén Navarro killing a long pass with a neat flick which fell to Rosu, who beat Casillas with a crisp shot. Del Bosque brought on Morientes and Munitis, but Nuñez was in great form in the home team goal, stopping a point blank shot from McManaman and another from Morientes.

Real Madrid went away having suffered their second defeat in a row, something that had not happened for almost a year, although losses by Valencia and Deportivo mean that they are still in contention. They go on to Moscow for a fairly meaningless Champions League match with Spartak, having qualified for the second phase two games ago, and as well as Figo and Helguera, both suspended, several other tired first team players will not board the plane. That includes Raúl, Hierro, Roberto Carlos and Guti, and three youngsters, Santos, Pavón and Leo are on standby. Numancia meanwhile are on a cloud, and their players were called back out by a fanatical crowd. They may not survive this season after all, but if they do go down they will have something to tell their grandchildren. I was there.....