Real Madrid 4-2 Olympiakos
Thursday, October 25, 2007

Real Madrid reclaimed top place in Champions League Group C after beating 10-man Olympiakos with three second-half goals at the Bernabeu Stadium.

Robinho, who was disciplined after arriving back late from Brazil's World Cup qualifiers last week, netted two vital goals as the Spanish champions came back from 2-1 down against the Greeks.

Raul put the unbeaten home side ahead from close range after just two minutes with his 58th career goal in Europe's top club competition, after Ruud van Nistelrooy's shot was blocked by keeper Antonios Nikopolidis.

Olympiakos, who ended a 31-game wait for an away win in the tournament in the previous round against Werder Bremen, leveled just five minutes later.

Luciano Galletti swept the ball past keeper Iker Casillas after Predrag Djordjevic beat Michel Salgado down the left and cut a pass back from the byline.

But the visitors, beaten in nine of 11 previous trips to Spain, had Vassilis Torosidis sent off in the 13th minute after he pulled down Van Nistelrooy on the edge of the penalty area.

Torosidis will now miss the return match at home against Real in two weeks' time.

But Olympiakos still managed to take the lead two minutes after the half-time break when Julio Cesar volleyed home Djordjevic's inswinging free-kick.

However, Real made their numerical advantage count in the 68th minute, as Robinho -- who was also involved in the first goal -- headed past Nikopolidis at the near post from a cross by Sergio Ramos.

Robinho was brought down for a penalty 10 minutes later, but Van Nistelrooy blasted the spot-kick over the bar to leave the score at 2-2.

Ruud made amends when he played in the Brazilian for his second in the 83rd minute, and substitute Javier Angel Balboa capped the victory in the third minute of injury-time after Casillas pulled off a superb save to deny Michal Zewlakow.