Firework fiesta for the champions

UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid CF returned home to celebrate in spectacular style last night.

Packed stadium
A busy day of celebrations culminated in a huge party at the Santiago Bernabéu. More than 75,000 people packed the famous old stadium to join in the party and cheer on the team that lifted the European Champion Clubs' Cup for a ninth time in Madrid's history on Wednesday night.

Lap of honour
The players and coaching staff gathered on a platform in the centre of the pitch to take the applause and watch as fireworks were sent soaring into the sky. Zinedine Zidane, the scorer of the spectacular decisive goal in the 2-1 victory over Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Glasgow, captain Fernando Hierro and the rest of the squad then went on a lap of honour around the pitch to the sounds of Beethoven's ninth symphony.

Thousands turned out
Earlier in the day, thousands had lined the route taken by the team's all-white open-top bus as it journeyed from the airport to the city centre. After a series of receptions, the players gathered at the balcony of the capital's town hall to display the trophy to the crowd below.

Thanks given
Later, the team gave thanks for the triumph at the city's cathedral, before moving on to 'la Cibeles', the square where Madridistas traditionally congregate to celebrate their triumphs. To loud acclaim, Raúl González, scorer of Madrid's first goal in the final, scaled the emblematic fountain and wrapped the club scarf around the Greek goddess at the centre.