Real Madrid kept their hopes of defending their title alive with a determined 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund at the Bernabeu.

Brazilian World Cup hero Ronaldo slid home the winning goal early in the second half to lift Real off the bottom of Group C.

The German side gave the champions an early scare when giant striker Jan Koller put them ahead on 30 minutes.

But Spanish favourite Raul grabbed the Real equaliser before Ronaldo ended their six-game run without a win in this year's competition.

It was a very important goal but I'm not the protagonist Ronaldo

Vicente del Bosque's team made a slow start with their first chance not coming until the 16th minute.

But Raul failed to get the better of Dortmund goalkeeper Jens Lehmann from close range.

The visitors duly seized the initiative when Koller pounced on a loose ball to fire a low right-footed shot from the edge of the area.

Madrid almost drew level in the 36th minute when Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo rattled the Dortmund bar.

And their equaliser came soon after, when Raul claimed his fifth goal of this season's Champions League campaign with a cheeky effort.

He held off Dortmund defender Christophe Metzelder before falling to the ground and poking the ball through his and Lehmann's legs.

The Spanish striker was easily the most lively of Real's glamorous attack and he almost grabbed a second goal a minute into the second-half.

But his shot from the edge of the area was acrobatically parried by Lehmann.

Matthias Sammer's Dortmund team will reflect on spurned chances in quick succession by Ewerthon, Torston Frings and Marcio Amoroso.

And they were made to pay when Ronaldo killed off the game in the 56th minute by slotting home a low cross from Zinedine Zidane.

Real Madrid: Casillas, Salgado, Carlos, Helguera, Pavon, Zidane (Solari 80), Figo, Flavio, Makelele, Raul, Ronaldo (Guti 72). Subs not used: Cesar, McManaman, Cambiasso, Morientes, Portillo.

Borussia Dortmund: Lehmann, Worns, Reuter (Kehl 76), Metzelder, Evanilson (Ricken 82), , Frings, Rosicky, Dede, Koller, Ewerthon, Amoroso (Reina 66). Subs not used: Weidenfeller, Madouni, Herrlich, Heinrich.

Booked: Frings, Kehl.

Referee: Michel Lubos (Slovakia)

Attendance: 50,000