Real Madrid began their quest for a 10th European crown in devastating attacking style on Tuesday, coming from a goal down to beat Olympique Marseille 4-2 in a breathless Champions League Group F clash at the Bernabeu. While partizan Belgrade and UEFA Cup champions Porto battled out a thrilling one-all draw.

Two goals from Ronaldo, a well struck volley from his Brazilian colleague Roberto Carlos and a Luis Figo penalty set the tournament favourites on their way to victory after Didier Drogba had given Marseille a surprise lead.

There might easily have been further goals from the Spanish champions, who brought chants of "Ole" from the home crowd for much of the second half with their pinpoint passing.

Instead, Real's defensive frailties were exposed once again, with Daniel van Buyten outjumping the home defence to head in from a corner seven minutes from time.

Then, in the final minute of injury time, Real keeper Iker Casillas had to clear off the line with his foot to prevent a Johnny Ecker header pulling the score back to 4-3.

Real, European champions three times in the past six years, came out looking to take up where they had left off in Saturday's 7-2 victory over Valladolid in the Spanish league.

The sort of flicks and tricks that lit up that display were easily dealt with early on by Marseille's committed midfield, though, and the French side, who had warmed up for the game with a 5-0 win over Le Mans, had the better of the early chances.

Ecker twice got clear down the left in first six minutes, sending in a low cross that Drogba just failed to get a boot on and then forcing a good low save from Casillas.

RASPING SHOT

Real were lacking their usual fluency in midfield but French playmaker Zidane, enjoying a lively opening against his hometown club, sent a rasping shot wide of the Marseille goal as the defence backed off.

Roberto Carlos tried his luck with two more long-range efforts before Marseille rocked the home side with the opening goal.

Esteban Cambiasso's poor attempt at a clearance gave the ball straight to Mido on the left, who turned and headed back towards goal.

The ball took two deflections on its way into the area, where Drogba found himself with enough time and space to rifle a shot past Casillas.

Roberto Carlos provided the equaliser within three minutes, volleying a David Beckham cross down into the ground and over the head of Marseille keeper Vedran Runje.

From that moment on Real were in complete command.

Beckham carved a route into the box and shot just wide when a second goal looked a certainty and a minute later Ronaldo was put through on goal only to see his shot saved by the keeper's legs.

Real got their second goal almost immediately, though, with Michel Salgado beating his marker and cutting back from the byline for Ronaldo to finish sharply after 34 minutes.

Ronaldo made it 3-1 after 57 minutes when Zidane, bursting clear after a Marseille attack had broken down, provided a simple pass for him to fire past Runje.

PARTIZAN AND PORTO BATTLE

Partizan Belgrade and Porto battled to an exciting 1-1 draw in their Champions League Group F match.

Porto took a 21st-minute lead through midfielder Francisco Costinha when he took advantage of poor marking and headed in a well-taken corner by Deco.

The visitors dominated the rest of the first half, but Partizan looked more lively after the break and got a deserved 54th-minute equaliser from Andrija Delibasic, when he blasted home a rebound from Ljubinko Drulovic's free kick.

Porto could have snatched a late victory if a fierce shot by second half substitute Edgaras Jankauskas had not sailed just over the crossbar in the 89th minute.

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