Madrid reaching their peak

Each day until 31 December uefa.com will assess the fortunes of a UEFA Champions League participant. Today we look at Real Madrid CF.

Real Madrid CF may have been champions of Europe on more occasions than any other team, and won the UEFA Champions League as recently as 1999/2000, but past achievements have done nothing to dampen the club’s desire for more glory.

Steely determination
They have set about their quest to regain the Champions League crown - lost to FC Bayern München last year in a tight semi-final - with a steely determination. Indeed Vicente del Bosque’s team have shone in Europe even when their domestic form was patchy.

Zidane arrrival
The club announced its intentions in the summer with the world-record signing of Zinedine Zidane who joined from Juventus FC for around €76M. The French international was bought to link up with Portuguese talisman Luis Figo in a prodigious midfield that also includes Spanish international Iván Helguera.

Goal supply
At first, Zidane took time to settle and Madrid made an uninspiring start to the defence of their Primera División title. However, there have been signs more recently that the selection of Zidane and Figo on the left and right of midfield respectively is starting to function with Spanish strikers Raúl González and Fernando Morientes reaping the rewards.

‘Maximum level’
As well as some consummate performances in the Champions League, Madrid have picked up domestically and went top of the Spanish first division in December following a five-match unbeaten run. After their latest Champions League success, 3-0 against Panathinaikos FC, coach Del Bosque said: "We are very near to our maximum level."

FIRST STAGE: Easy pickings

Madrid made an explosive start to their Champions League campaign winning their first four matches in Group A to ensure straightforward qualification for the second stage.

Four in a row
Goals from Figo and Guti stunned Italian champions AS Roma at the Olimpico stadium as Madrid triumphed 2-1 on Matchday One. This was followed by convincing home wins against FC Lokomotiv Moscow and RSC Anderlecht before Madrid travelled to Brussels and beat Anderlecht a second time. A subsequent 0-0 draw with Roma and 1-0 defeat in Moscow were academic with Madrid confirmed as group winners.

SECOND STAGE: Cruise control

Madrid successfully negotiated a potentially tricky trip to AC Sparta Praha in their opening match of Group B as Morientes scored twice in a thrilling 3-2 victory. Panathinaikos were then brushed aside 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium as Madrid established a three-point lead at the top of the group ahead of the winter break.
 
REMAINING GAMES: Iberian derby

FC Porto will be the next visitors to the Bernabéu when the Champions League resumes on 19 February. And Madrid will be hoping to secure their quarter-final berth in either the return against Porto or at home to Sparta. They end the group stage with a trip to Panathinaikos, but should already be in the last eight by then.

THE COACH: Vicente del Bosque

Del Bosque, who replaced John Toshack in November 1999, is the eleventh coach to hold the post in the last decade.

Trophy winner
But the 51-year-old has had more success at the club than most, bringing the Spanish title back to the capital after a four-year absence as well as winning the Champions League with a 3-0 defeat of Valencia CF in the 2000 final.

Long apprenticeship
Del Bosque is steeped in Madrid tradition having begun his career with the club as a youth-team player in 1968. He was a part of the backroom set-up for nine years before he was finally given the coach's job in a full-time capacity.

THE PLAYER: Luis Figo

Madrid paid a then world-record €66m to buy Figo out of his contract with arch-rivals FC Barcelona last year.

Creative hub
And the 29-year-old has already proved his worth with some scintillating performances at the Bernabéu over the past two seasons. Widely regarded as the greatest "assistant" in the Spanish game, he has been the creative hub behind many of Madrid’s high-scoring home victories in the Champions League.

FIFA award
Figo's performances for Madrid, and Portugal, who he played for with distinction as they negotiated their 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying section without losing a game, have been recognised by FIFA: the world game's governing body handed him in December their coveted World Player of the Year award for 2001.

DOMESTIC FORM: Building momentum

After a sluggish start, Madrid have begun to replicate their Champions League form on the home front. A 3-1 win against Real Sociedad on 15 December saw them extend their unbeaten run to five games and claim top spot in the Primera División. After 17 games, Madrid were level on 31 points with Real Betis Belompié but led the table on goal difference.