The Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, was filled to the rafters with Lazio sky blue colors, and looked to really intimidate Spanish La Liga Champions Real Madrid, who were the visitors against Lazio for a group stage match of the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League tournament. The tens of thousands of Lazio fans really made an intimidating sight for the visiting Real Madrid squad, but the Spanish La Liga Champions weren’t at all fazed. In fact, it was Real Madrid who came out blazing, and scoring a quick goal in the 8th minute.

Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder curled in a free-kick which evaded the Lazio wall and went straight to Ruud van Nistelrooy, who redirected it into the open space and into the back of the Lazio net to have Real Madrid get an early 1-0 advantage. Real Madrid could’ve added more goals through the offensive tandem of Raul and Ruud van Nistelrooy, including an overhead kick by van Nistelrooy that would’ve made a spectacular highlight reel if Lazio keeper Marco Ballotta wasn’t there to smother the ball.

The pace of the match was fast and furious with both teams really attacking the goal at a frenetic pace. Eventually, Lazio was able to draw an equaliser against Real Madrid when Goran Pandev received the ball through a header from team mate Guglielmo Stendardo, who then buried the ball into the back of the Real Madrid net past keeper Iker Casillas.

Sergio Ramos, Guti and Royston Drenthe of Raul Madrid built a solid midfield, and eventually was able to get ahead in the 61st minute of the match when Raul Gonzalez made a perfectly timed pass into a wide open space, and Ruud Van Nistelrooy was able to chase down the ball before Lazio keeper Ballotta could get to in. Ruud van Nistelrooy had no problems chipping it over Ballotta and into the Lazio net to give The Madridista’s a 2-1 advantage.

Lazio were able to answer back on the 75th minute with another goal from striker Goran Pandev. Pandev collected a loose ball inside the penalty area, and turned to shoot it low past Madrid keeper Iker Casillas, who couldn’t reach the ball despite his dive.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with both Lazio and Real Madrid gaining 1 point each. The standings for the UEFA Champions League Group C have Olympiacos and Real Madrid tied for first place with 4 points each. Lazio is behind them with 2 points while Werder Bremen has yet to earn a point after 2 matchdays of group stage play in the Champions League.

Spanish La Liga champions Real Madrid will host Greece Super League champions Olympiakos at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on October 24 for matchday 3 of the group stages in the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League.

Italian Serie A club Lazio will be visitors to German Bundesliga club Werder Bremen.

To bet on Real Madrid vs. Olympiakos, Lazio vs. Werder Bremen and other group stage matches of the UEFA Champions League, click here.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 5th, 2007 at 11:33 am and is filed under Goran Pandev, Guti, Iker Casillas, Italian Serie A, Lazio, Olympiakos, Raul, Real Madrid, Ruud Van Nistelroy, Soccer News, Spanish Primera Liga, Sports News, UEFA Champions League, Werder Bremen, Wesley Sneijder. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.