[calcutta]

GROUP C: Madrid's Galacticos eliminate Bremen, Keane continues to shine in Glasgow

WERDER BREMEN....0
REAL MADRID.........2 Ronaldo 13', Raul 69'

Spanish league runners-up Real Madrid completed the sweep over their German counterparts with a comprehensive away performance. It was an open-ended match with plenty of chances for both teams, but it was the Galacticos' more clinical finishing that prevailed in the end. Brazilian Ronaldo opened the scoring with a typical striker's goal in the 13th minute, sidefooting to the bottom left corner of Andreas Reinke's net from 15 yards. Strike partner Raul had found the former Inter Milan star in acres of space after drawing two Bremen defenders, allowing him to score his second goal in as many outings. The visitors continued to apply pressure and somehow failed to doubled their lead ten minutes later. A bullet Raul header from six yards was incredibly turned away by Reinke and Ronaldo could only hit the side-netting with the follow up from an acute angle. They almost paid the price for those missed chances in the 43rd minute, when Krisztian Lisztes played Ivan Klasnic through on goal, but Iker Casillas was at full stretch to amazingly deny the Croat's low strike.

A minute into the second half, Miroslave Klose almost capitalised on a rare lapse in judgement from Casillas in the Madrid goal. Frank Fahrenhorst floated in a deep lob ball which the Spanish keeper came to catch, only to miss it but Klose's three yard contested header hit the crossbar of the wide open goal. The hosts would come to rue such misses when a tactical change in the 68th minute led to Madrid's second goal. Ronaldo was replaced by Guti and regular midfielder Francesco Totti was pushed up front where he set up Raul to score his first goal of the current campaign. Totti led a break down the left before chipping a ball into the box where the unmarked Raul met it with a spectacular diving header, sealing the victory. Real held on for a hard fought 2-0 win - their second in a row - to propel them into second place with seven points. Conversely, Bremen are rooted to the bottom of Group C having yet to secure a point meaning they have been eliminated mathematically. It ends a terrible week for the Germans clubs, all three of which lost by 2-0 margins.

Shots: 11-9 Real Madrid
On Target: 8-5 Real Madrid
Cards
- WER none
- MAD none


CELTIC..........1 Keane 45'
LYON.............0

Robbie Keane continued his remarkable scoring streak with the only goal of the game to maintain Celtic's undefeated record, taking them to ten points and retaining first place in Group C. The lone goal arrived in first half injury time, when the Irishman ghosted in unmarked at the far post and nodded in a Jamie Carragher cross from the left. Lyon goalkeeper Gregory Coupet was wrongfooted on his goalline, fuming at his defence for their woeful man-marking. Minutes earlier, Lyon blew a chance to go in front themselves when Jerome Berthod, who was starting in place of the suspended Claudio Cacapa, found himself in the Celtic area. The left back skied his 17 yard first-timer over the bar after a great give-and-go with Juninho Pernambucano.

Stanlislav Varga replaced Aiden McGeady at the hour mark as the hosts looked to preserve their slim lead. The French visitors never seemed to find a rhythm in offense despite outshooting their opponents. Keane's strike partner John Hartson was inches away fom sealing the win in the 72nd minute when a long range strike. The Welshman's 25 yard effort angled just to the right of goal. Overall the match was a complete contrast to last weeks's action-packed encounter, and Keane's fifth goal in four matches was enough to see Celtic take all three points, while Lyon fall to third place behind Real Madrid.

Shots: 9-7 Lyon
On Target: 5-4 Lyon
Cards
- CEL none
- LYN none