Lazio’s Champions League adventure has come to an end after a 3-1 defeat at classy Real Madrid saw them knocked out of Europe. The Italian giants had the daunting task of having to collect an unlikely victory at the Bernabeu to progress – after picking up just five points from five games – but they were as good as out after just 15 minutes in the Spanish capital.

Delio Rossi went into the tie with the numerous injury problems which have plagued his selections all term and there was further bad news prior to kick-off. Captain Luciano Zauri looked to have recovered from a knock, but he didn’t last the warm-up. In his place stepped up Under-21 international Lorenzo De Silvestri.

Lazio started brightly with Goran Pandev causing a concern for Real after just three minutes before Mourad Meghni wasted a golden opportunity from close range. He just had to hit the target but the kid prematurely compared to Zinedine Zidane fired over the bar.

It proved to be a costly miss as Real illustrated just what sort of an attacking threat they would pose in the game. On 10 minutes, Raul rattled the post from a Sneijder corner before Madrid hit the Biancocelesti with a quick one-two.

Julio Baptista was the first to ripple the net as he beat Marco Ballotta with a shot from the edge of the area after a Robinho assist. The latter then set-up his side’s second just 120 seconds later when Raul’s header did find its target. Real 2 Lazio 0.

The Italian side’s tentative attempts to get back into the game consisted of a Tommaso Rocchi effort which was saved by Casillas and a Goran Pandev shot which hit the side netting. But it was Real who were again celebrating soon after. Although an offside flag saved Lazio from a Raul strike, there was nothing wrong with Robinho’s 38th minute effort after some fine combination play with Van Nistelrooy.

Lazio threw on Roberto Baronio at the break with just pride left to play for, while Real made two changes by bringing on Guti and Robben. The former Chelsea winger settled instantly into the tie and was denied by a great Ballotta save in the 55th minute just when it seemed goal No 4 was on the cards.

Robben seemed eager to impress for the home side as he continued to look dangerous. Some fine individual play saw him try his luck from the edge of the box just past the hour mark, but the ball cleared the crossbar.

Real seemed content to let the minutes pass by even if Lazio were still struggling to create a serious scoring chance. But when they did threaten it was with some style as Rocchi’s technically excellent scissor-kick was dealt with by Casillas.

Lazio did have something to celebrate though with 10 minutes left. Rocchi looped the ball over Casillas after a Mutarelli assist and Pandev slotted in from close range. However, the goal came at a price as the Macedonian was instantly forced out of the game with injury after colliding with the post. But it was too little, too late as Real netted a deserved victory.

The Italians then had an injury-time opportunity to reduce the deficit further after a Pepe handball gave them a penalty. But the misfortune which has characterised their season returned as Rocchi saw his spot-kick saved by Casillas who then also denied Baronio on the rebound. It ended Real 3 Lazio 1.

The defeat means that Lazio won’t even have the consolation of UEFA Cup football after Christmas seeing as they have ended their six-game Champions League challenge at the bottom of Group C. Olympiacos progress with Real, while Werder Bremen are relegated to the UEFA Cup.

Real Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Pepe, Marcelo; Baptista, Diarra, Robinho (Guti 46), Sneijder (Robben 46); Van Nistelrooy (Higuain 72), Raul

Lazio: Ballotta; Scaloni, Siviglia, Cribari, De Silvestri; Mudingayi, Ledesma (Baronio 46), Mutarelli; Meghni; (Manfredini 63) Rocchi, Pandev (Makinwa 82)

Ref: Busacca (Swi)

Miss pen: Rocchi 92 (L)