Champions League - Real Madrid 5 Bayer Leverkusen 3

Real Madrid were sensational in a 5-3 win over Bayer Leverkusen at a thrilled Bernabeu stadium.

The European champions took the lead n only the third minute when Guti converted a low cross from close range and the game came to wonderful life with Leverkusen contributing much to a great attacking exhibition.

The visit of the Bundesliga side had been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the great Spanish derby game.

Real play at the Camp Nou against FC Barcelona on Saturday night and the hype surrounding their clash - and the return of Luis Figo to Catalonia - has dominated the Spanish media for the past three weeks.

Figo is removing the Catalan number lates from his new car to save an attack from Real Madrid Ultra Sur fans on his property after his world record £38 million move Madrid in the summer and the Portuguese star is claiming that a smear campaign by Catalan press reporters is being waged against him.

The furious play in this game drowned out the hype and Leverkusen reovered well from their early set back to take charge in midfield.

Thomas Brdaric headed in a corner in the 19th minute to make it 1-1. Six minutes later Luis Figo launched a precise cross for Ivan Helguera to head Real back into the lead.

In the 55th minute Leverkusen equalised with another header from a corner with Ulf Kirsten powering his effort down and into the net. Guti restored the home side's lead when he ran clear of the German defence on 65 minutes and scored in off the post.

Raul produced a neat finish in the 75th minute with a low shot but three minutes later Leverkusen substitute Paulo Rink collected a loose ball and drove into the net.

Figo scored with a penalty he won after a foul by Joerg Reeb to extend the lead for Real.