Zidane the hero as Real lift ninth European Cup

Zinedine Zidane justified his world record price tag with a stunning goal that sealed Real Madrid's ninth European Cup in a 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League final at Hampden Park on Wednesday.

The French midfielder, who cost 48 million pounds last year, struck a brilliantly-executed left-foot volley at the end of the first half for Real's winning goal.

It was created out of nothing but is one that is likely to assume its place in European soccer folklore and earned Real a hard-won victory in their centenary year.

Their third European title in five seasons was guaranteed at the end by two outstanding saves from substitute goalkeeper Ilker Casillas as Real's goal somehow survived a desperate Leverkusen onslaught.

But the match turned in the 45th minute when a quick Real break, against the run of play, ended with Roberto Carlos lofting a high, hopeful ball across goal in the general direction of Zidane who was being closely marked by two defenders.

But the Frenchman drifted away from them, followed the descent of the ball out of the night sky and then unleashed an unstoppable left-foot volley from the edge of the penalty area that was in the back of the net before Leverkusen goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt had a chance to move.

The goal would have graced any game, including the 1960 European Cup final which Real famously won, also at Hampden, 7-3 against Eintracht Frankfurt in what is generally regarded as the best club match ever played and Real's greatest ever performance.

The surviving veterans of that game -- watching from the VIP seats, leapt as one to acclaim the goal which proved to be the winner.

RAUL RECORD

Real struck the first blow after nine minutes with a goal as soft as Zidane's was brilliant. Leverkusen were caught napping by a long throw from Roberto Carlos which Raul ran on to and collected.

Although he lost his marker Lucio he appeared to underhit his shot which Butt also appeared to have covered. Yet somehow it eluded the goalkeeper and crept in at the far post. It was his sixth Champions League goal of the season and increased his all-time scoring record for the Champions League to 33.

Lucio made amends five minutes later when he out-jumped Real skipper Fernando Hierro and equalised with a header following a Bernd Schneider free-kick.

Leverkusen then dominated most of the first half but rarely looked like scoring again, although Thomas Brdaric should have done better with a 21st minute opportunity which he wasted when he failed to control the ball properly after beating the offside trap and saw Real goalie Cesar push the ball away for a corner.

He was replaced soon after by Dimitar Berbatov as Leverkusen continued to keep Real hemmed back in their own half with their determined pressing and tackling.

Michael Ballack, in his last match before his summer move to Bayern Munich, was a constant threat in the middle for Leverkusen, but despite his probing, and all his team mates' harrying and determination, Leverkusen could not breach the Real defence -- in which Ivan Helguera was outstanding -- again.

And just as it seemed they would go in at half-time level, Zidane struck.

FIGO REPLACED

World Player of the Year Luis Figo, himself the world's most expensive player before Zidane arrived from Juventus a year ago, had an unimpressive first half and after failing to make any greater impression in the second, coach Vicente del Bosque replaced him with Steve McManaman midway through the second half.

McManaman, overlooked by England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson for the World Cup, but now twice a European Cup winner with Real, added some more potency down the right for Real, and although scoring chances remained at a premium, he set up chances for Morientes and Santiago Solari which kept the Leverkusen defence under pressure.

At the same time Zidane was by now dominating midfield with his impressive skills and was the fulcrum between attack and defence as Real began to over-run the tiring Germans.

After two European Cup final defeats with Juventus in 1997 and 1998 -- against Real -- he celebrated ecstatically with the trophy and was deservedly named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance.

Despite all his brilliance, Leverkusen were still not over-awed or yet beaten. With seven minutes time added on by Swiss referee Urs Meier for an injury to Cesar, Leverkusen finished as frantically as they started and were desperately unlucky not to score a late equaliser.

EMPTY-HANDED

Cesar limped off after 68 minutes with a foot injury and Casillas made his mark on the match with two stunning saves from substitute Berbatov -- while Leverkusen goalkeeper Butt, playing up in attack, saw his powerful header bounce down and over the crossbar.

At the end, del Bosque was left to celebrate his second European Cup success in three seasons as Real coach after his team missed out on the Spanish League and Kings Cup this season -- but there was no reprieve for the Germans.

Leverkusen left empty-handed after a cruel three weeks in which they just missed out on the German title, lost the German Cup final and now the Champions League final.

It was the second blow for German soccer in a week following Borussia Dortmund's loss in the UEFA Cup final to Feyenoord who will now meet Real in next season's Super Cup curtain-raiser in Monaco in August.