Ever-reliable striker Raul fired defending champions Real Madrid to the verge of the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday, scoring twice in an end to end 3-1 win over Manchester United at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
United coach Sir Alex Ferguson had opined before the start that this clash of the continent's super heavyweights was an even bigger encounter than those at a World Cup.
A look at the Real teamsheet proved him right -- and so did the result as the Spanish matadors threatened to batter the English Premiership giants all the way back to Manchester, where now Ferguson's men have to undo the damage in the second leg.
Making changes
The "meringues" delighted a 75,000 home crowd as they turned on the style associated with a team that can put World Cup winners Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Zinedine Zidane on the same club teamsheet.
Add Raul, Luis Figo and Fernando Hierro to the mix and the world eleven that Ferguson had privately perhaps almost feared toyed with his men -- at times with almost embarrassing ease.
After United had made the brighter start Zidane fed Figo nonchalantly for a brilliant opener on 12 minutes, a curling effort sweeping over Fabien Barthez's head in the United goal.
After 28 minutes Raul's eighth goal in 11 Champions League matches this season -- and his 42nd in all in the tournament -- put Real 2-0 to the good.
Zidane played the Spanish international striker in and Raul effortlessly turned England defender Rio Ferdinand to slot home low inside Barthez's right hand post.
Ronaldo could afford a quiet night by his World Cup standards and four minutes after the restart Figo fed Raul 20m out and his blistering effort sailed past Barthez and into the net to make it 3-0 with goal 43.
Ruud van Nistelrooy's close-range reply for his 11th goal in this season's tournament -- a Champions League record in a single campaign -- three minutes later may yet give United hope, but they face a huge uphill struggle against a side that attacks at will, home and away.
Ferguson could only admire Raul's contribution.
"I hope he doesn't travel well," he grimaced, adding: "I hope van Nistelrooy's goal can make the difference."
"Real bought Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo -- but the best player in the world at the moment is Raul."
Real's French midfielder Claude Makelele, a rather more unsung squad member, warned the tie wasn't over.
"When you win you enjoy it -- but we have to make sure we finish the job at their place," he said.
Real, whose skipper Hierro made his 100th appearance in
European competitions on Tuesday, took their unbeaten sequence against English sides to eight.
United have failed to win in 14 of 15 European visits to Spain -- the exception being last year's quarterfinal win at Deportivo La Coruna.
United's Gary Neville and Paul Scholes will be suspended for the return match, after being given yellow cards.
Ajax vs Milan
Tuesday's other quarterfinal encounter was another clash of the historical giants, four-time winners Ajax having to make do with a goalless home draw in Amsterdam against five-time champions AC Milan.
Both sides have always made at least the last four having previously come this far.
Ajax took their unbeaten run in the competition to seven -- but they have become the draw specialists with eight in 13 outings this campaign.
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