Rivaldo sinks old foes

Rivaldo came back to haunt Real Madrid as he fired Olympiakos to a 2-1 victory.

Things looked to be going well for Real's caretaker boss Juan Ramon Lopez Caro as his side deservedly went in ahead at the interval thanks to Sergio Ramos' early goal.

However, without the services of a number of the club's big names, Real capitulated in the second period and, after Erol Bulut had levelled matters with a stunning volley, Rivaldo popped up in the dying stages to notch what will have been a sweet goal to settle the game.

Real moved ahead after just seven minutes although the hosts were more than a little annoyed over the award of the free-kick that led to the goal with Javier Balboa rather theatrically going down under challenge from Bulut.

However, the Greeks only had themselves to blame for some poor defending from the set-piece itself with Ramos allowed to climb above both Gabriel Schuerrer and Bulut to direct home a header from Raul Bravo's far-post delivery.

Olympiakos responded with the impressive Yaya Toure beating Thomas Gravesen and Bravo with ease before setting up Predrag Djordjevic who shot straight at Diego Lopez.

Real came close to doubling their advantage on the quarter hour mark after another contentious free-kick award. This time it was Julio Baptista who flimsily collapsed on the edge of the box, but there was nothing weak about his subsequent effort which struck the bar and bounced out to safety.

Rookie striker Roberto Soldado then spurned a presentable chance as he failed to direct his header on target from Balboa's inviting cross.

The hosts were on the back foot again soon afterwards when Schurrer was forced to scramble away at the near post to deny Baptista and the same player then had to clear off his own line when Robinho met another inviting Balboa cross.

The last chance of the half also belonged to Real but a fine Antonis Nikopolidis save denied Soldado's improvised effort after good work by Balboa and Robinho.

However, it was a different story after the break with Olympiakos a revitalised side and they restored parity on 50 minutes with a fabulous strike.

Djordjevic's cross from the left was headed to what appeared relative safety by Bravo, but Bulut moved on to the dropping ball on the edge of the box and exploded a fierce right-foot volley past Lopez at his near post.

Toure continued to be driving force behind all his side's best work and after sending a long-range strike narrowly wide, the brother of Arsenal's Kolo Toure set up Pantelis Kafes with another rampaging run and the midfielder was only denied by an excellent last-ditch challenge from Francisco Pavon.

Nikopolidis was forced to beat out a Robinho effort on the hour mark, but as new Real boss Juan Ramon Lopez Caro threw on yet more youngsters in the closing stages, so Olympiakos turned the screw.

Rivaldo really should have moved his side ahead but somehow contrived to shoot wide of a gaping goal after Yiannakis Okkas had outfoxed Carlos Diogo and unselfishly squared.

However, the Brazilian made no mistake, three minutes from time, when he slotted home from six yards after yet more superb work from the relentless Toure who powered his way past a weak challenge from Ramos to get to the by-line.

In the end it was no more than Olympiakos deserved although it failed to alter much in Group F, with Real already qualified and Olympiakos having left themselves too much to do to claim the Uefa Cup place.