BR - What we take solace in sometimes breaks our hearts beyond repair. The very competition which ingrained Real Madrid’s status in the history of football caused exactly that kind of hurt following Zinedine Zidane’s volley against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002. Prior to 2011, Real Madrid had been shown the exit door at the Round of 16 for six straight seasons in the Champions League until Jose Mourinho (aided by the luck of the draw) took them through to two semi-finals.
