Champions League:Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun headed home an 82nd minute winner against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu this evening to give the Merseysiders a priceless advantage ahead of the return leg of their Champions League second round tie and ease the pressure on manager Rafael Benitez. Chelsea beat Juventus by the same margin at home, thanks to an early Didier Drogba goal.

The hours before the game were dominated by feverish speculation over the manager’s future but as the club denied the rumours of the manager’s departure there remained a job to do on the pitch. And it had to be down without skipper Steven Gerrard, who was only deemed fit enough for the bench.

Real began brightly and Raul and Higuain both forced saves from Pepe Reina. Arjen Robben was lively on the right wing but was marshalled closely by Fabio Aurelio and his influence in the first half was kept to a minimum.

The visitors gradually got hold of possession and Fernando Torres was first denied by Iker Casillas before the Spanish goalkeeper tipped over Xabi Alonso's 60 yard effort.

Trouble was brewing for Liverpool, however, as it became increasingly apparent that Torres was not comfortable and the striker needed treatment to a foot injury.

Nvertheless, Liverpool ended the half brightly and began the second with some purpose.

Benayoun was becoming increasingly effective behind Torres but the striker was soon replaced by Ryan Babel.

Having switched to the left wing, Robben escaped the attention of Aurelio and tested the Liverpool defence, which was, for the most part, well organised and rarely under threat. When Robben did get a shot off, Reina tipped it over the bar.

That was a crucial intervention, as the shot was arrowing into the roof of the net.

Following Torres’ departure, Liverpool seemed less inclined to push forward, but they were handed a great chance to try to break the deadlock when Dirk Kuyt was fouled in a dangerous position 10 yards outside the area towards the right touchline.

Aurelio’s curling cross into the area found Benayoun unmarked and the Israeli international headed past a wandering Casillas.

Gerrard was introduced for the final minutes, with Riera the player to make way, but the job was done at that stage and a deserved victory was secured.

At Stamford Bridge, former Chelseamanager Claudio Ranieri was given a warm welcome but it was shortlived.

Drogba pounced in the 13th minute when he collected a pass from Salomon Kalou and despatched a vicious shot beyond Gianluigi Buffon from 12 yards.

Chelsea could have won by a bigger margin but failed to make the most of their chances while Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero saw a first-half effort superbly saved by Petr Cech.

Juventus piled on the pressure as the game entered the last 15 minutes but Chelsea’s rearguard admirably stuck to its task.

Indeed, they prevented the Italian side from engineering a clear-cut chance despite allowing them the lion’s share of possession in the closing stages.

Anelka almost gave Chelsea the cushion of a second goal when his 20-yard effort flashed inches wide of an upright in the 87th minute.

Nedved was wide by a similar margin in stoppage time but Chelsea were worthy winners.

Franck Ribery nad Luca Toni both scored twice as Bayern Munichdemolished Sporting Lisbon5-0 in the Pourtuguese capital.

Miroslav Klose also found the net for his sixth goal of the competition this season.

Sporting are the only team left in the competition who have never reached the Champions League quarter-finals and that is not a milestone they are going to reach this season.

In the night's other match, Villarrealfought back back to draw 1-1 with Panathinaikos.