Madrid's "Real", which came to Kyiv for a victory, barely managed to preserve a point in the game against Kyiv's "Dynamo" at the packed NSC "Olimpiyskyi", playing to a 2:2 draw. Moreover, a large "credit" for the fact that the "star-studded" "Real" did not get a slap in Kyiv belongs also to the match's head referee - Greek Kyros Vassaras, who tried by any means to please the "royal club".

Not only did the referee award a v-e-r-y questionable penalty against Shovkovskyi's goal, but the "man in black" also practically did not react to rule violations by "Real" players, while almost every push by the Dynamo players was punished with a yellow card and a free kick toward the white-and-blue goal. As a result, the Kyivans ended up with as many as 5 yellow cards, while "Real" had only one...

However, such help did not help "Real" win, although that would have been the height of injustice. Throughout the entire match, the guests created only a few dangerous moments, which can be counted on the fingers of one hand..

"Dynamo" offered its renowned opponent, whose roster features nothing but "stars" in every surname, total pressing across the entire field in this match, and the Kyivans' defenders practically eliminated the formidable Owen and Ronaldo from the game.

From the first minutes of the duel, both teams exchanged attacks, although it did not come to dangerous moments. For "Real", it is worth noting Roberto Carlos's free kick, which hit the elegant wall of players. "Dynamo", supported by a numerous army of fans (such frenzied crowd support had not been seen for a long time. Author's note) rushed forward constantly. The Kyivans were lucky with the first goal, although - it was still a logical outcome. Rincon entered the penalty area and laid the ball off for Yusuf's shot, who fired at the center of the goal, but the ball, clipping Pavon's leg, treacherously flew past Casillas, who jumped in the other direction and landed in the Spaniards' net – 1:0.

"Real's" response took a long time to come, but ten minutes later Maris Verpakovskis once again brought the stadium to its feet. The Latvian national team forward broke through the guests' defense down the left flank and from the corner of the penalty area shot from under Salgado's feet, sending the ball low into the corner of Casillas's goal, who again proved unable to save his team. It was now – 2:0. The scored goal added even more confidence to the Kyivans, while "Real" looked doomed. Zidane's long-range shots were not as accurate, and Zizou's actions near the penalty area were fully controlled by Yusuf, who ran after the Frenchman like a shadow and won this duel against the renowned master.

The same Yusuf could have scored a "brace" in this game, but his first-time shot from about 16 meters went over the goal. In the 36th minute, Husyev had an excellent chance to score, receiving a pass from Gavrancic, but Casillas parried the Dynamo player's shot not without problems. True, in the 38th minute the guests managed to catch "Dynamo" on a counterattack. Figo "cut off" three Dynamo defenders at once with a through pass down the center of the penalty area, and Raul, who came out one-on-one with Shovkovskyi, delicately beat the "Dynamo" goalkeeper, pulling one goal back. It seems the goal became a cold shower for Sabo's team. In the next attack, Kleber's shot hit a defender, and Casillas deflected Husyev's follow-up shot for a corner.

When the penultimate minute of this match was already running out, "Real" managed to restore parity with the help of referee Vassaras. Near the penalty area line, Kadouri ran to take the ball from Ronaldo and only slightly touched the Brazilian's leg, who immediately fell as if cut down. The referee immediately pointed to the "spot". Figo confidently converted the penalty – 2:2.

The second half of the meeting took place in mutual attacks by both teams and either side could have scored. For the Kyivans, the most realistic chance in the second 45 minutes was wasted by Kleber, who after an ideal pass from Verpakovskis shot over the goal from about 12 meters... Overall, Kleber was active in attack in this game, but his efficiency rating in attack is practically zero. Moreover, Kleber simply cannot get rid of the "illness" called greed for the ball. The Brazilian often overdribbled in moments when he needed first and foremost to pass to a teammate. "Real" nearly upset "Dynamo" for the third time in the 69th minute, when after Figo's shot only Shovkovskyi's breathtaking leap saved the Dynamo players from a goal.

Until the end of the match, the game mostly took place in oppositional struggle for the ball and for space on the field, but it did not come to dangerous shots.

After this draw in Kyiv and the peaceful result in Rome, where "Roma" played 1:1 with "Bayer", the further fate of Kyiv's "Dynamo" in the Champions League will be decided only in the last game of the group stage. Even a victory in Kyiv over "Roma" cannot guarantee Sabo's charges a place in the round of 16.

Group B

"DYNAMO" (KYIV. UKRAINE) - "Real" (Spain) - 2:2 Goals: Yusuf 13, Verpakovskis 23, Raul 38, Figo 44 - from penalty Dynamo: Shovkovskyi, Rodolfo, Sablic, Gavrancic, Yusuf, Ghioane, Husyev (Leko 84), Kadouri (Nesmachnyi 65), Kleber, Rincon, Verpakovskis (Chernat) Real: Casillas, Salgado, Roberto Carlos, Pavon, Zidane, Helguera, Figo (Solari 90), Guti, Raul, Ronaldo (Morientes 87), Owen (Celades 59)

Standings: 1. "DYNAMO" - 7. 2. "Bayer" - 7. 3. "Real" - 7. 4. "Roma" - 1.