On this day - When battling Leeds United pushed Real Madrid all the way at the Bernabeu

Were you one of the 8,000 Leeds fans who were in the Bernabeu? PIC: Mark Bickerdike

He was the Polish referee that missed that blatant Raul handball under the lights in the Santiago Bernabéu back in March 2001.

18 memories from Leeds United's Champions League adventure during the 2000s

Around 8,000 Leeds United fans made the voyage to Madrid 17 years ago, painting the Plaza Mayor white and leaving the Spanish capital somewhat short of cerveza.

Striker Mark Viduka heads home in the Santiago Bernabu.

The Whites returned without points from the Champions League Group D clash, however, after the superstar-laden Spaniards overcame a brave, fluent and daring Whites performance to win 3-2.

This game in the Spanish capital was a stage befitting the level of support afforded to Leeds United.

Their famous run to the 2000/01 Champions League semi-finals providing some of the finest evenings in the club’s history.

And despite the result, their sun-kissed March trip to Espana was undoubtedly one of them.

MATCH STATS: Real Madrid 3 (Raul 7, 60, Figo 41) Leeds United 2 (Smith 6, Viduka 54) - (Champions League Group D, March 6, 2001)

Real Madrid: Cesar Sanchez, Geremi, Hierro, Karanka, Solari, Makelele, Celades, McManaman, Figo, Morientes, Raul. Subs: Casillas, Salgado, Savio, Guti, Munitis, Tote, Rivera.

Leeds United: Martyn, Harte, Radebe, Ferdinand, Matteo, Bakke, Dacourt, Batty, Kewell, Smith, Viduka. Subs: Robinson, Kelly, Wilcox, Burns, Maybury.

Referee: Ryszard Wojcik (Poland).

Attendance: 45,000.