Round-up

Lazio are currently flying in Serie A, but their Champions League ambitions look over for another year after they went down 3-2 to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu last night.

The match, watched by new England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, was a classic. Lazio made the perfect start when Hernan Crespo scored after just four minutes, taking a pass from Lucas Castroman on his thigh and holding off Aigtor Karanka before sliding the ball inside the post.

But for the rest of the half Madrid, inspired by another excellent performance from Steve McManaman, were dominant, and they deservedly equalized when Fernando Morientes connected with Raul's cross just after the half-hour.

The second half was even better, however, with both sides missing chances before the game was settled in a stunning final ten minutes.

Ivan Helguera put Real ahead on 81 minutes when a cross by Roberto Carlos eluded Lazio's defence, only for Guerini Gottardi to equalise a minute later after Iker Casillas fumbled Giuseppe Pancaro's tame cross.

But Gottardi turned villain four minutes later, unnecessarily slashing down Pedro Munitis in the box. Luis Figo did his best to miss the resulting penalty, but his tame shot squeezed past the keeper, inflicting Lazio's first defeat since Dino Zoff replaced Eriksson as coach.

Real now have three wins out of three, and lead Group D by three points from Leeds. Meanwhile, Lazio are now stranded at the foot of the table after three successive defeats.

After the game Zoff was angry with referee Gilles Veissiere, blaming his decisions for the defeat. "I don't agree that Real Madrid were just winners," insisted Zoff, who was making his first visit to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium since lifting the World Cup in 1982. "I don't think the referee was up to a match of this size."

"I wasn't satisfied with our first half performance but after the break there were equal opportunities for both sides," he continued. "Unfortunately, our chances didn't produce results."

Real coach Vicente del Bosque was understandably in better mood. "I have come to talk about a great match between two top-class sides who performed to the limit of their abilities," he said. "We played brilliantly in the first half and dominated completely. The second was more evenly balanced, but the crowd was treated to a great spectacle."

Meanwhile McManaman, aware that he was being watched by Eriksson, admitted afterwards: "I was delighted with the chance to show him what I can do and I was pretty pleased with my performance, even though I was in trouble from midway through the first half with a hamstring injury."

But he was still circumspect about Real's prospects of qualification, claiming: "There are still three matches to go and nothing is decided yet."

A second-half header from Giovane Elber ensured Bayern Munich stretched their lead at the top of Group C to three points with a 1-0 victory over Spartak Moscow.

Bayern dominated in midfield and had the most of possession, but they often appeared clumsy in front of goal and looked unlikely to break through. That was until Elber headed home from close range on 78 minutes, following in after substitute Carsten Jancker had flicked on Bixente Lizarazu's throw-in.

Elber, who got himself in trouble earlier this year by criticizing Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld's defensive tactics and hinting at a move to Spain, was the best player on the pitch - a fact recognized by Hitzfeld.

"Elber is an exceptionally gifted player who is very important to Bayern and he proved that again tonight," he said.

Spartak, who had not played a competitive match since losing 3-0 to Lyon in their previous Champions League game on December 5, threatened rarely and coach Oleg Romantsev was not at all satisfied with his side's showing.

"We never found our game and I would rate our performance at 50 percent of what we are capable of doing," he said. "Bayern's victory is a deserved one."