Madrid make the chances count

Real Madrid FC arrived as slight favourites, although their recent form offered little comfort: a goalless Champions League draw with Rotherham United, two Spanish First Division defeats, then a win and a draw. They were sixth in the league, with 15 points from nine matches. BSC Young Boys had won three of their previous five Champions League games, drawing one and losing one. Neither side had won or drawn a previous meeting. There was no league position supplied for Young Boys, and no need to pretend the evening required one: Madrid had the ball, the better chances, and eventually six goals.

Joel opened the scoring in the 14th minute. The Spanish left winger, 26, was not merely the first name on the scoresheet; he was the match’s best player, finishing with a goal, two assists and four key passes. Rıdvan Baran, Madrid’s 31-year-old Turkish left-back, made it 2-0 in the 40th. Then the match went briefly beyond the sort of arithmetic a supporter can follow without checking twice: Pele, a 34-year-old Brazilian central midfielder, scored in the 45th, and Ronaldinho, a 32-year-old Brazilian striker, added another in the first minute of stoppage time. Young Boys at least had an answer before the break, Francis Escobar scoring at 45+3'.

The home side had only 34 per cent of possession, but their response after the interval made the scoreline feel less settled than it had at half-time. Jacub Batchelor, their 27-year-old English attacking midfielder, scored in the 64th minute. Jan Milà, on from the break, helped bring some life to Young Boys’ play; Escobar had four shots and covered the same distance as Joel, which is a respectable amount of running for a man whose team had just conceded four in a half.

Madrid’s reply was immediate. Pele scored again in the 67th, and Chancel Beya, the 33-year-old DR Congolese defensive midfielder, made it 6-2 in the 81st. Madrid had 14 shots, five clear-cut chances and one effort against the woodwork; Young Boys managed six shots on target but no clear-cut chances. The crowd of 31,120 had seen enough to understand the difference: Young Boys could threaten, but Madrid could turn openings into goals with alarming efficiency. Joel’s performance was the most complete of the night; Pele and Beya were not far behind. The final score was 2-6, and there was no next opponent given.