Champions' League round-up: Beckham presses for recall with purple patch

David Beckham came off the bench to inspire a lethargic Real Madrid through to the Champions' League knockout stages last night and increase his chances of a first-team recall.

Beckham was a 59th-minute substitute against Steaua Bucharest and Real scored shortly after his introduction at the Bernabeu. The former England captain was a constant threat down the right and on 61 minutes his free-kick was headed just wide by the Real defender Sergio Ramos.

The pressure finally paid off on 70 minutes when the Steaua defender Banel Nicolita inexplicably put through his own net with no Real Madrid player anywhere near him.

In the other Group E game, Lyon beat Dynamo Kiev 1-0 to book their place in the last 16. Karim Benzema scored for the French champions, who have won all four of their games with two to play.

In Group H, Kaka scored a hat-trick as Milan all but secured a place in the knockout stages with a 4-1 win over Anderlecht. AEK Athens enjoyed their first Champions' League win, beating 10-man Lille 1-0.