Despite Monday's Santiago Bernabeu Trophy being only a friendly, albeit one to which a bauble was attached, Camacho was unhappy to see his team outfought during a 1-0 defeat by Mexico's Pumas, coached by former Real star Hugo Sanchez.

"For them this was their match of the year but where we were concerned, I think we lacked motivation," said a grumpy Camacho, who admitted in mitigation that playing their opening league match in Mallorca just two days earlier was a factor for his men's sluggishness.

Owen, having shone on Sunday by creating the only goal for Ronaldo, kept his place in the absence of the injured Raul while Fernando Morientes came in for the rested Brazilian.

The Englishman, being dubbed the 'chico from Chester' in the Spanish media, acquitted himself well enough but Real lacked penetration on the night and both he and Beckham left the arena at the break by prior arrangement to head for London to join their England colleagues.

Sanchez, meanwhile, was ebullient after Castro's fine strike midway through the second half cheered a noisy Mexican contingent.

"This is historic for Mexican football, for the Pumas and for me, to come here to the Bernabeu and win" Sanchez enthused. "We played with inspiration as I had asked."

An inspiration which was lacking from their hosts, albeit a Real side who left Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo on the bench for the opening period and gave outings to several reserves.

The chico from Chester did just enough to show the reserve epithet should not be applied to the former Liverpool striker.