Leeds 0-2 Real Madrid

	Mark Viduka tries a free-kick (MichaelSteele/Allsport)

Two second-half goals in three minutes by Fernando Hierro and Raul shattered David O'Leary's unbeaten home record in Continental competition and showed that his team are human after all.

All of the spirit the glory and the drama which this run has so far thrown up for Leeds could not match the might of the European champions and they were left breathless by the same sucker punch which eliminated Manchester United in last season's quarter-final at Old Trafford.

It was a crushing blow for the young upstarts who have built a mini-revolution in the Champions League based on belief and hardwork to get there.

Indecision in the six-yard box allowed Guti a free shot but he blasted over when the net was easier to hit.

A disputable flag was raised by a linesman but it was the intervention of Dutch referee Dick Jol which brought out the biting irony of the Yorkshire public five minutes later.

As the ball bobbled around his billion peseta boots, Figo went to ground with Woodgate in attendance and the referee blew ominously.

The only penalty awarded was a yellow card for diving and the cry rose from the stands.

In keeping with their anarchist attitude in this competition up until now, Leeds displayed no signs of being in awe of opponents who have won this competition four more times than their hosts have even competed in it.

O'Leary had pledged that his side would respect Real's players but not their reputation. They were aided greatly in that cause by the return of Jonathan Woodgate to the heart of the defence.

Of all Leeds young pretenders, Woodgate is more prone to ignore ostentatious opponents than others. He wasn't slow to show Luis Figo that he would have to rely on a bit more than his £37.5million price tag to get any change out of him.

The only threat he posed through the opening exchanges was from the sanctuary of a dead ball on the flank.

Playing their normal pressing game, the Portuguese international was made to look slow and cumbersome to the ball by white shirts more keen and motivated to a waste of money'.

Woodgate who, unlike £18m man Rio Ferdinand, cost the Elland Road club nothing, almost made himself priceless moments later at the other end of the pitch.

Roberto Carlos conceded a free-kick which Lee Bowyer swung to the far post. Iker Casillas fumbled hopelessly and Woodgate produced a shot which cannoned off a post and on to Gary Kelly's head. Leeds' frustration was complete when the ball floated wide and Real escaped.

With Leeds refusing to concede possession never mind territory, the European champions looked to their star players for inspiration. Steve McManaman glided the ball into the path of Raul whose first-time shot clattered a post while Paul Robinson watched.

Then it was the turn of Figo to shine. Despite a listless performance for the majority of the first half, he reminded everyone in the stadium that you don't need to work hard to be effective six minutes from the break.

His double shuffle was simple enough in execution but it left enough daylight between him and Lucas Radebe to afford a shot. As he was about to pull the trigger, the South African made the challenge of his life to nudge the ball away and send the striker flying.

Figo appealed strongly but the referee had the situation sussed and rightly gave the corner. Deflated, the danger fizzled out and Leeds pushed again upfield to press Real in their own box.

The normally flawless Ivan Campo was forced into a bad clearance and Bowyer picked Dominic Matteo out at the far post. This time Casillas stood firm and was in position to beat away the danger.

Real came more into the game and gradually withdrew from flooding the flanks in favour of hitting on the break.

McManaman flashed down the left in all too familiar fashion before feeding Raul with the kind of cross he usually buries. Luckily for Leeds, the striker showed mercy and screwed his shot wide.

Their charity was to know some limit, however, and the same player was on hand to exchange passes with Figo whose shot forced Robinson to concede a corner.

Figo received the kick short and planted his cross on Fernando Hierro's head where it was despatched where Woodgate and Matteo were impotent.

Leeds were stunned by that 66th minute strike but they weren't granted any time for introspection. McManaman passed inside for Guti to deliver beyond the last man and Raul scored with glee in the 68th minute.

His joy was unbridled by the fact that he was just offside when he received the ball but the goal stood nonetheless.

Teams:
Leeds: Robinson; Mills, Woodgate, Radebe, Harte; Kelly, Bowyer, Burns (Wilcox, 59min), Matteo; Viduka, Smith.