Substitute Kaka sparkled and Karim Benzema scored twice as Real Madrid finally broke down underdogs APOEL in Nicosia last night, winning the Champions League quarter final first leg 3-0.
The Brazil international was introduced in the 63rd minute and set up Benzema for a 74th-minute opener before tucking away fellow sub Marcelo’s excellent cutback eight minutes later.
France striker Benzema’s second gave the scoreline an emphatic look despite a mighty defensive effort by APOEL, whose giant-killing run has accounted for Lyon, Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk but who were outclassed last night.
“We played against Real Madrid, one of the biggest clubs in the world. They have too much quality. If you make a simple mistake against them, they can punish you. That is what happened to us in the final 15 minutes,” said APOEL striker Ailton Almeida minutes after the game.
Helio Pinto agreed: “Real Madrid are very strong. We tried to play our game, but they are used to this kind of play when teams defend against them. We held until the last fifteen minutes when they broke through for the first time. It is a pity we did not succeed to get a draw.”
“If we look at everything we did so far it is like a fairytale; however, as a football player you never want to lose any game never mind one like this,” he added.
“We played against one of the best teams in the world and despite the defeat we should keep our heads high. We will now focus on the national championship and I think that we have a good chance to defend the title and take part in the Champions League again next season,” commented APOEL’s president Phivos Erotokritou.
APOEL lost key defender Marcelo Oliveira to injury inside 10 minutes after his standing leg twisted under him as he overcommitted in a tackle.
APOEL never seriously threatened the Real defence but the Spanish side became increasingly frustrated by their inability to break through.
Mesut Ozil tested goalkeeper Dionisis Chiotis, with the hosts still down to 10 men before replacement centre-half Kaka – the namesake and compatriot of Real’s in-form schemer – could be introduced.
Fabio Coentrao shot well wide and a frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo was beckoned to his feet by referee Felix Brych after tumbling over Savvas Poursaitidis.
Benzema was guilty of a shocking miss in the 33rd minute when he hung a foot out at Ronaldo’s low cross but stubbed the ball into the ground and it bounced over the bar.
Ronaldo sliced wide when picked out by Ozil as Real were held at bay until the interval.
Benzema lashed over from the edge of the box early in the second half and Ronaldo was similarly inaccurate before another Benzema effort was blocked.
Ailton lifted the home crowd with a wonderful solo run down the left before being fouled by Sergio Ramos, but the free-kick came to nothing.
Jose Mourinho was driven to a double change in an attempt to lift Real, introducing his own Kaka and Marcelo for Higuain – injured a few minutes previously – and Coentrao.
Esteban Solari, the brother of former Real stalwart Santiago, stepped off the APOEL bench – but soon found his side trailing as the better-known Kaka crossed deliciously from the left and Benzema dived to head past Chiotis.
The keeper saved Ronaldo’s drive with his legs and then fumbled Kaka’s effort as Real sought a killer second goal.
And it duly arrived as Marcelo was caught in the box by Paulo Jorge but kept his balance and cut the ball back for Kaka to slot home.
Benzema tucked away Ozil’s inviting low pass in the last minute as Real put the tie to bed ahead of April 4’s return leg.
Real Madrid’s defender Alvaro Arbeloa gave credit to APOEL’s defence: “It was not an easy game for us because they defended really well; they had many players behind the ball. However, we did our job and eventually scored a few goals to secure an easier game back in Madrid.”
