Soccer: UEFA Champions League Cup Final - Real Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen
Jade, 2.35am
Real Madrid have had a disappointing centenary season. After spending a fortune on a galaxy of stars including World Player of the Year Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane (above), they were third, nine points behind champions Valencia in the league and blew the Kings Cup final, 2-1, to Deportivo De La Coruna in March. Real Madrid need consistency up front if they are to justify their expenditure at Hampden Park. Three days after they defeated arch-rivals Barcelona, 3-1 on aggregate, and progressed to tonight's showdown in Glasgow, Real Madrid struggled at home to lowly Mallorca.
Bayer Leverkusen, who reached the final on the away-goals rule against Manchester United, will be just as desperate to win in Glasgow, having blown another Bundesliga bid by finishing a point behind champions Borussia Dortmund, and losing the German cup final this month. But even without their injured captain Jens Novotny, Ulf Kirsten, Ze Roberto and Michael Ballack can all threaten Madrid's goal in a potentially thrilling match. English speakers might like to tune into Jade, turn down the sound and play a Webcast or a radio commentary.