Dead-ball dilemma for Del Bosque

The vulnerability of Real Madrid CF at dead-ball situations in Athens will not have gone unnoticed by their UEFA Champions League rivals. All three goals by AEK Athens FC at the Nikos Goumas stadium, in their 3-3 draw with the European champions came from either free-kicks or corners and Vicente del Bosque, the Madrid coach, was left to remark: "I would like to think all three goals were the result of AEK excellence rather than Madrid mistakes."

Historic victory
If AEK themselves had been as vigilant as they were prolific, they might have come away with an historic victory to compare with the one over Madrid in this competition in 1985/86. As it was, they let the Spanish side back into the game, at 3-1, when two moments of defensive slackness were punished by Zinedine Zidane and then Guti. 

Near and so far
For Dusan Bajevic, the AEK coach, it was a case of near and yet so far. After two draws, AEK needed a victory to take with them on their travels to Madrid and Rome in the coming weeks. "We came so near to making history," he said. "We could have won. With a win we would have been more calm before our next engagement. I guess whatever lead you have you can never be sure of victory against Real."

Chance to win
Busan pointed out that in all three games they had had good chances to win late on, but had failed to take the opportunity. Christos Maladenis, who had been responsible for restoring AEK's lead with a header three minutes after coming on as a first-half substitute, had the chance to win the game in added-on time, but hoisted the ball high over the bar with just Iker Casillas to beat. 

Bitter taste
"That leaves some bitterness in the mouth," said Bajevic of their missed opportunity. "In all three games we have had very clear goalscoring chances in the dying minutes. We could now have three wins, instead we have three draws."

Dedicated display
Nevertheless, he was sufficiently pleased with his team's performance to dedicate it to the club's owner Chrisostomos 'Makis' Psomiadis, who was given a 12-year jail sentence this week for forgery. "After what has gone in the last few days it has been tough for us, but we have managed to keep going. We dedicate our performance to Makis."

Dead-ball specialist
Their attacking was of such a quality that it was hard to believe they had not scored in 338 minutes in the competition before Vassilios Tsartas, their dead-ball specialist, eventually did so with a sublime free-kick, which came immediately upon receiving a yellow card for deliberating too long over the kick. Later, Maladenis and Themistoklis Nikolaidis scored with well-taken headers. 

Dropped points
Madrid, who dropped their first points in their domestic league at the weekend, against Real Valladolid, never looked happy when defending at free-kicks and corners. They were thankful when Zidane equalised with a wonderful piece of skill. He cushioned the ball with the outside of his foot and then in his next stride smote a low shot past Dionisios Chiotis. The AEK goalkeeper repeatedly came to his side's rescue with timely interventions, even though he rarely risked catching the ball.

Not to blame
Neither could he be blamed for either of the next two goals - a far-post volley by Zidane, and Guti's near-post volley - which maintained Madrid's unbeaten start in Group C. Madrid can take comfort from the knowledge that when they lost here in 1985/86 they went to win the competition.