Below-par Madrid fail to match billing

Real Madrid CF full-back Marcelo knows that the Spanish champions wasted an opportunity to light up the Santiago Bernabéu during their 2-0 Group H victory against ten-man FC Bate Borisov. "We let the fans down but the most important thing is that we gained three points," said the Brazilian.

Fan frustration 
With home supporters expecting a goal-fest against the first Belarussian team to make it into the group stage, the disappointment inside the famous stadium was palpable after strikes from Sergio Ramos and Ruud van Nistelrooy either side of the break earned Madrid a workmanlike win on Matchday 1. "It wasn't Real Madrid's best game although we tried to put on a good show," Marcelo said. "In the Champions League there are never easy games. I think it's normal that people would like to see us scoring more goals but it wasn't to be."

Opportunities spurned 
The 20-year-old combined well with Dutch international Arjen Robben down the left flank during his seventh appearance in Europe's premier club competition, but he explained that the team encountered problems after going ahead in the eleventh minute. "We tried to score as soon as we could but we then ran into some difficulties and missed a lot of chances," the former Fluminese FC player added. "We know that the fans are always looking for a big performance from us and we would have liked to have emerged from the game in a more spectacular fashion."

Gago injury
UEFA Champions League victors in 1998, 2000 and 2002, Madrid will have to lift their game for their next outing in the section, away to UEFA Cup holders FC Zenit St. Petersburg. With the match at the Petrovsky Stadium less than a fortnight away, Bernd Schuster will be sweating over the fitness of midfielder Fernando Gago who went off in the 36th minute last night clutching the back of his left thigh. "It's a real pity that Gago had to leave the pitch," Marcelo said. "We hope his injury is not too serious and that he can return to the team as soon as possible."