Woodgate delight at 'change of luck'

Bittersweet spell
Woodgate has experienced a torrid time since arriving in Madrid in August 2004, with a thigh injury forcing him to miss the whole of last season, before marking his debut in September with an own goal and a red card against Athletic Club Bilbao. But all was forgotten on Wednesday as the English international capped a solid display with a first strike in Madrid colours to cancel out Roar Strand's first-half goal and make the score 1-1.

Del Corral tribute
"It was a great feeling to score," he said. "I just waited at the back post because I knew David [Beckham] was going to put a great ball in. I thought 'get your head on it'. I just jumped and smashed it in." Woodgate did not forget the man responsible for hauling him back to fitness, as he made a point of celebrating the goal with club doctor Alfonso del Corral. "I ran over to Del Corral because it has been bad for me and him over the last year. It's great to put all that behind me. He's worked so hard to help me recover and I had to make sure he got the credit he deserves. The fans have treated me brilliantly too and I'm really grateful to them. I'd had some bad luck but my luck has changed now."