Real roar back after Roma scare

David Beckham told his Real Madrid partner Michael Owen to be patient after the striker was forced to watch a Raul-inspired Champions League comeback from the Bernabeu dugout.

The much maligned Real captain bagged a brace last night to help his side overturn a two-goal first-half deficit against Italian side Roma.

But Beckham is confident that despite Raul's return to form, Owen can still make a success of his £8million summer move from Liverpool.

The England captain said: 'It was always going to be tough, that's the same for any player who comes here. But Michael will get his chance because everybody knows what a great player he is and when he gets his chance, he'll take it.' Owen and the crowd saw Real prove they are far from European Cup hasbeens. Roma had left them reeling with goals inside the opening 20 minutes from Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Cassano.

But Raul struck bacck five minutes before half-time when his shot deflected off Greece defender Traianos Dellas past helpless keeper Ivan Pelizzoli. Hope turned to belief when Luis Figo equalised from the spot after 53 minutes when Dellas felled Raul. With Real suddenly showing the spirit that has deserted them so far this season, it was fitting that Raul should fire them ahead from Figo's driven cross.

The comeback was complete when Roberto Carlos, mercilessly jeered on his last Bernabeu appearance, rifled in a 25-yard effort with 11 minutes left. Beckham hailed the turnaround saying: 'When we went 2-0 down we decided it was make or break and we needed to win this match. It was the best we've played all season. It has eased the pressure because now we have points on the board.'