Arsenal's Thierry Henry (right) of France is congratulated by Real Madrid's David Beckham of England after their Champions League first knockout first leg match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid yesterday. Arsenal won 1-0. - REUTERS
LONDON (AP):
THIERRY HENRY scored in Arsenal's 1-0 upset win at Real Madrid in the Champions League yesterday, while AC Milan ended Bayern Munich's 15-match winning streak at home with a 1-1 draw.
Europe's top club competition resumed after a two and a half month break this week with the first leg of the opening knockout round. In other matches yesterday, defending champions Liverpool lost 1-0 at Benfica and Lyon won 1-0 at PSV Eindhoven.
Arsenal travelled to Madrid with a youthful defence, without the experienced Dennis Berg-kamp and low on confidence after their poor recent record. But the Gunners had three chances to score in the opening 10 minutes - José Antonio Reyes, Fredrik Ljungberg and Henry all going close.
Henry scored in the 47th minute, eluding four defenders to net past Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas. It is the first time an English club has won at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
NOT SCARED TO PLAY
"For a very long time, I didn't see an Arsenal team like that," Henry said. "We were brilliant defensively, but more importantly, we were not scared to play. You see that as soon as Arsenal are not scared to play, we can play good football.
"We have only won one game, we are not there yet so we have to stay calm and focus."
Real Madrid had two English players - David Beckham and Jonathan Woodgate - starting against Arsenal. Woodgate only lasted eight minutes before coming off with a hamstring injury.
Six-time champions AC Milan played five-time winners Bayern Munich in Germany.
Michael Ballack gave Bayern the lead in the 23rd minute with a right-footed shot.
POOR SECOND HALF
Milan levelled in the 58th when Valerien Ismael handled the ball and a penalty was awarded. Andriy Shevchenko scored by sending Bayern goalkeeper Michael Rensing the wrong way. Regular goalkeeper Oliver Kahn warmed up but did not play because of a bruised thigh.
"That goal really affected us. We played a poor second half," Bayern coach Felix Magath said. "Clearly this wasn't our ideal result."
Benfica's Brazilian defender, Luisao, scored six minutes from the end in Lisbon, Portugal.
"The first leg is always a cautious affair ... but we showed we can be dangerous," Luisao said.
Luisao beat his markers to head home a free kick from Armando Petit when the game looked headed for a draw. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who has a minor knee injury, started on the bench. He came on as a late sub.
In Eindhoven, Netherlands, Lyon's Juninho scored in the 65th minute from a free kick. His winner curled toward the middle of the goal and PSV keeper Gomes misjudged the flight for it to bounce in off his thigh.
Lyon midfielder Sidney Govou was sent off in the 80th minute for two yellow cards.
Today, Chelsea host Barce-lona in another rematch from last season; Werder Bremen host Italian league leader Juventus; Scottish club Rangers play Villarreal in Glasgow; and Inter Milan travel to Ajax.
