The Spanish champions, who went into the game having won all three of their Primera Liga matches this season, secured the victory thanks to goals from veteran strike duo Raul and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Bremen had equalised through Boubacar Sanogo early on, but despite giving Real a number of frights, the German visitors were unable to take anything out of the match.

Neither side had even threatened a shot in a disappointing opening quarter-of-an-hour, but then the game sparked into life with two goals in as many minutes.

It was Real who took the lead in the 16th minute when Van Nistelrooy broke into the Bremen area on the left before dinking in a cross that strike partner Raul headed low inside the front post.

Real's joy was short-lived though, with Bremen equalising through Sanogo in the very next attack.

Dusko Tosic sent over a cross from the left that found its way through to Sanogo inside the six-yard box and he stuck out a foot to divert the ball past Iker Casillas.

Casillas managed to get a hand on the shot, but it was not enough to prevent the ball trickling over the line.

The Real goalkeeper was more successful seven minutes later as Bremen came close to taking a shock lead.

Diego found himself in space on the right and his low cross was well met by Markus Rosenberg seven yards out. Fortunately for Real though, Rosenberg's shot was straight at Casillas, who was able to save with his foot.

At the other end, an offide flag and a superb Per Mertesacker block twice denied Van Nistelrooy what looked like certain goals, before Gonzalo Higuain smashed a shot just wide of the far post as Real started to take control.

After a slow start the match really started to open up heading into half-time, and both sides had great chances to score just before the break.

First Rosenberg fired a poorly-struck shot straight at Casillas after turning inside Fabio Cannavaro, before Van Nistelrooy was again denied by some last-ditch Werder defending when faced with an open goal.

The final effort of an entertaining - if slow to get going - first half came from Werder midfielder Daniel Jensen, whose swerving 25-yard shot was pushed away be Casillas.

The second half followed a similar script to the first, with precious little happening in either box in the opening 20 minutes, before both sides had sights of goal in the space of 60 seconds.

Rosenberg was the first to try his luck with a swivelling volley that Casillas collected, before Raul broke the Bremen offside trap only to see his attempted lob saved by Tim Wiese.

Van Nistelrooy then got in behind the visiting defence, but just as he was about to pull the trigger he was superbly tackled.

The Dutchman was becoming more influential in the match though, and in the 72nd minute he worked himself another shooting opportunity only to be denied by Wiese.

The former Manchester United marksman was not to be thwarted a minute later though as he put Real back in front.

In a reversal of roles from the Spanish champions' opening goal, Raul threaded the ball through for Van Nistelrooy and the prolific marksman made no mistake with a low shot from the edge of the area.

That proved to be the winning goal, but there was still time for the Bernabeu crowd to get excited as coach Bernd Schuster gave Arjen Robben his debut six minutes from time.

The Dutch winger, who had yet to feature for Real since moving from Chelsea last month, received a standing ovation as he entered the action, and he almost helped create a third goal for his side.

But, having put Wesley Sneijder clean through on goal, Robben's fellow Dutchman decided to cross instead of shoot, and the chance was lost.