Zidane screamer crowns Real's night

Leo Spall13 April 2012
Real Madrid 2 Bayer Leverkusen 1

If FIFA's World Player of the Year award was judged on a one-off performance, then Real Madrid's Zinedine Zidane would be in possession of it today.

Last time around his teammates Luis Figo and Raul came first and third with England captain David Beckham squeezed in between.

The Frenchman came fourth after taking the title in two of the three previous years.

But in last night's 2-1 Champions League Final win over Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park the mercurial midfielder overshadowed his Real rivals with an impressive performance and spectacular winning goal.

Zidane appeared to have the ball attached to his feet every time he received it and he rolled and turned so many of his opponents he must have felt like he was playing football around a maze.

Much of his good work may have been done in the middle third of the pitch but seconds from the end of the first half he made his most telling contribution.

A looping Roberto Carlos cross found Zidane on the edge of the Leverkusen penalty area and he smashed a left-foot, waist high volley beyond goalkeeper Jorg Butt and into the net.

The goal was enough to secure the Champions League title for Real and salvage something from a season which had threatened to end trophyless after they had finished third in the Spanish League and lost to Deportivo La Coruna in the Spanish Cup Final.

Leverkusen captain Carsten Ramelow said: "That is what makes Zidane the best in the world.

"I don't think he got too many possibilities to show his superb talent in the game and we controlled him reasonably well. But he only needs one opportunity and everybody saw what happened when he got one."

Zidane's team- mate Steve McManaman, who came on late in the second half for Figo, added: "I think it is the best goal I have seen in a final. I was watching from the bench and it looked like a fantastic goal."

It was a great moment for Zidane after experiencing two previous Champions League Final defeats with Juventus.

The 29-year-old moved to Real last summer for a world record fee of £48 million and he put the goal and victory in perspective when he compared it to his success with France in 1998.

Zidane said: "It was my third final so it was very important for me to win. The Champions League victory is equally important to me as winning the World Cup. I am very happy and I dedicate the win to the fans."

Raul put the Spanish side ahead in the ninth minute when he collected a long Roberto Carlos throw-in and slid it home, reemphasising his position as the competition's all-time top scorer in its 10th year by taking his goal tally to 34.

Lucio headed an equaliser six minutes later and the Germans looked a reasonable bet to cause an upset until Zidane struck.

Real were a more composed team after the break and the players showed the skill and confidence to reflect their status as some of the best in the world.

But Leverkusen refused to give in and almost drew level for a second time when they forced three goal line clearances in the seven minutes of injury time played at the end.

For them, the result means the end of a magical adventure which has caught many in European football, not least Liverpool and Manchester United, by surprise.

It also signals the break-up of the team, which also just missed out on winning the Bundesliga and German Cup, with players such as Bayern Munich-bound Michael Ballack leaving.

For Real it meant joyous relief. Their demanding fans are now less likely to force a squad and management overhaul this summer.

That is bad news for Chelsea, who have been eyeing their Cameroon defender Geremi.

Real's managing director Jorge Valdano rates him highly and wants to keep him even though the 23-year-old did not make the substitutes' bench last night.

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