Real Madrid - 4 Marseille - 2:Humbled and humiliated, chewed and spat out in a riot of attacking football, Marseille learnt last night what others are sure to experience this season. That there is simply no taming Real Madrid.
The last time David Beckham played a Champions League game in this arena he endured that empty, hopeless feeling as Manchester United were outclassed 3-1 in last season's quarter-final. Last night, wearing white, he revelled in the majesty of it all.
Real Madrid harbour hopes of claiming a 10th European Cup in Gelsenkirchen next May - on this swashbuckling evidence, those aspirations are wholly realistic.
This contest crackled with fiery intent for 26 breathless minutes before erupting into the spectacle most had expected.
Marseille, returned to Europe's elite for the first time in four seasons, had doused Real's early intent with a quartet strung across midfield.
Wherever Zinedine Zidane roamed he was waylaid by snapping opponents Camel Meriem and Fabio Celestini.
Marseille were encamped, harrying the home side to the extent that even Beckham's usually reliable supply line of centres from free-kicks was misfiring.
They even broke with venom, Didier Drogba poking Mido's fizzed cross just behind, only to ruin all their hard work by pursuing the most dangerous course of action; they took the lead.
Michel Salgado's mistake presented the loose ball to Mido, the Egyptian gathering eagerly only to scuff his shot into the muddle on the edge of the area.
Out of the mish-mash it broke kindly for Drogba to collect and calmly slide beyond the exposed Iker Casillas.
Yet, the breakthrough had come too early; Real were stung and Zidane was suddenly roused. Drifting into the centre he toyed with his markers, sending Salgado scurrying down the right to make amends for his error.
The full back's cross might have been converted by Raul had Abdoulaye Meite not choked it behind.
Instead, Beckham gathered the short corner and centred for Roberto Carlos, alone on the edge of the area, to dispatch a blistering volley down and beyond Vedran Runje.
Parity was temporary. Real were never likely to put up with the visitors' impudent start and Salgado duly burst to the byline yet again and pulled back perfectly for Ronaldo to crunch into the empty net.
Beckham's delicious crossfield pass threatened to yield a second for Ronaldo shortly after the interval. Roberto Carlos's more brutal punt did.
Zidane gathered the clearance and ran from inside his own half into the visitors' area where the Brazilian striker, seizing on the Frenchman's first loose touch, curled in the third.
Marseille's earlier organisation had long since evaporated under rampant and incessant attack. Ronaldo, tearing into the area, was promptly flattened by Runje and, though Figo's penalty was twice-taken, it was as emphatic both times.
Daniel van Buyten may have headed Stepan Vachousek's corner in off a post to claw back some respectability, but Madrid were merely strutting by then and - had the need arisen - could have strolled in a fifth at will.
Guardian Service
REAL MADRID: Casillas, Salgado, Carlos, Bravo, Pavon, Cambiasso (Guti 73), Beckham, Figo, Zidane (Solari 85), Raul, Ronaldo (Portillo 85). Subs Not Used: Cesar, Ruben, Nunez, Borja. Booked: Bravo. Goals: Carlos 29, Ronaldo 34, 56, Figo 61 pen.
MARSEILLE: Runje, Beye, Van Buyten, Ecker, Meite, Hemdani (Vachousek 61), Celestini, Meriem, Drogba (N'Diaye 65), Mido, Marlet (Johansen 38). Subs Not Used: Carasso, Perez, Sychev, Laurenti. Booked: Runje. Goals: Drogba 25, Van Buyten 83.
Referee: W Stark (Germany).
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