Champions League - Leeds United 0 Real Madrid 2

Leeds United conceded 69% of possession and two goals to European champions Real Madrid.

Real had nearly 70% of the ball in a goalless first half and the Spanish team used this to establish control of the game and eventually outclass Leeds despite two decent chances for the Premiership team.

A great break that went down the length of the pitch sealed the win for Real in the 67th minute when Raul was played in for a first time finish past goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

The move started when Roberto Carlos kept in a wayward Ian Harte free kick by the corner flag and brought the ball forward to include Steve McManaman in a sweeping move that ended with Guti slipping the ball through to Raul for a neat finish.

Just three minutes earlier captain Fernando Hierro had headed in a Luis Figo cross after a short corner to put Real into the lead.

The goals were justified by Real's domination of the passing with Leeds sitting right back in defence and allowing the opposition to work the ball all over the pitch.

Real did not need to rely on counter attacks and coach Del Bosque may have chosen a more attacking line up if he had guessed Leeds were to offer so little in attack.

Alan Smith and Mark Viduka failed to combine as their midfield hardly touched the ball and Viduka gave one of his more ineffectual and clumsy performances.

Leeds had a great chance to score in the 38th minute when Dominic Matteo slammed a header straight at Iker Casillas after Ivan Campo had given the ball away to Lee Bowyer who swept in a cross. Either side of the teenage goalkeeper and Leeds would have gone into the lead and it came seconds after Raul and Guti had played an extravagant double one-two move in attack that ended with Raul firing against the post.

Leeds also hit the post in the 6th minute when Casillas failed to gather a corner kick and dropped it to returning centre back Jonathan Woodgate who stabbed the ball against the post. Woodgate had not played or trained recently and often looked off the pace in this match.

Raul forced a diving save in the 25th minute from Robinson when he turned first time on a low through ball by McManaman on the right to shoot across the goalkeeper at the far corner.

Guti had wasted the first chance of the match in the 5th when a Figo free kick from the left landed at his feet via a deflection but he skied the chance.

Real's simple passing moves cut paths through the Leeds team but an early defeat for them means there is still time to make amends but Real's system for playing in Europe at the moment is working very well.