2001/02 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1-2 Real Madrid CF: Report

Real Madrid CF's return to Hampden Park did not disappoint as Zinédine Zidane's memorable volley earned his side a ninth European Champion Clubs' Cup, the cruellest of ends to a campaign that had promised so much for Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Eduardo Galeano once wrote that when the beauty of football reveals itself "admirers are left pitying their unborn grandchildren who will never see them." For four decades Glaswegians, Sir Alex Ferguson among them, had spoken of Madrid's 7-3 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt at Hampden in the 1960 European Cup final in reverential tones. Zidane provided a new generation with their moment.

The showpiece was 1-1 and drifting towards half-time when Roberto Carlos' hopeful cross looped to the edge of the penalty area. Zidane, watching and waiting, adjusted his body and in one, fluid movement, pirouetted and caught it full on the volley with his supposedly weaker left foot. Goalkeeper Jörg Butt never stood a chance.

Only a wonder of resilience could have carried an impressively organised Leverkusen side beyond the impact of that astonishing goal – but Hampden had witnessed its miracle for the night. Klaus Toppmöller's side went down fighting, though. After finishing second in the Bundesliga and losing the German Cup final they were determined to avoid an unwanted hat-trick; to shake off the cruel 'Neverkusen' tag.

They battled right until the seventh minute of injury time when Iker Casillas – on for the injured César – made three spectacular saves to see Madrid home. The German team had already displayed their powers of recovery after a nervy start that culminated in Raúl González's eighth-minute opener, with Lúcio's header swiftly restoring parity. There was no answer to Zidane.

"It's desperately painful to end with nothing," said Toppmöller. "We could spend forever on the training ground planning, but then something special happens that you cannot make allowances for. In this case it was Zidane's goal."