IMADRID. May 4IAFP): Love at first sight it certainly wasn't - but nine months after 'arriving in town a tentative affair Is, belatedly, just starting to blossom between Nicolas Anelka and Real Madrid football club.

Anelka, painted as an ill-advised bad boy for risking a premature move from English Premiership side Arsenal, swapped his London misery to take on the role of 37 million-dollar conquering hero with Real - only to take half a season to score a goal, fall out with his teammates and then skip training to pick up a suspension and a huge fine.

Just a month ago he was training on his own in disgrace after preferring a weekend off to the hard slog of preparing for matches.

Such barefaced truancy brought a 45-day ban and with It a financial penalty estimated at more than 300.000 dollars,

Given his form up until then, some Real fans would almost accepted that as a leaving fee.

"We would even have offloaded him to Barcelona" - the ultimate insult - opined one home fan ahead of Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg clash with Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu stadium

But whoever said football supporters weren’t fickle? For. just four minutes into the match there was the gangly Frenchman haring confidently into the penalty area and striking a sweet effort past Oliver Kahn and into the back of the

Bayern net.

A Jens Jeremies own goal later and seven-times continental kings Real - Real is the Spanish word for Royal - had a foot in the final with a 2-0 lead to take back to Munich.

And then, the unthinkable -praise for Monsieur Anelka from a habitually vicious Spanish press, which had dubbed him "Anelkalser" more in hope than expectation before kickoff.

"Anelka, you are forgiven." was the reaction of sports daily Marca. which praised Anelka for linking up so effectively with Raul, who turned provider this time after his two goals which sank Manchester United In the last round at Old Trafford.

"He connected with Raul and opened the way to victory." said Marca. adding that "Anelka is now finding his rhythm with Real having broken his Champions League duck In style.

El Mundo was equally effusive in its praise of the man who could yet emerge from a ought mare season to spearhead the challenge of world champions France at Euro2000 in less than six weeks time.

"Anelka's exploits set Real on their way to an all-Spanish final," was El Mundo's assessment.

"The most singular thing was how Anelka and the crowd reacquainted themselves with each other. The reconciliation has been consummated!"

The ABC dally was no less generous.

Anelka produced a clinical finish for the goal and fought

tigerishJy throughout."

Ironically, even though he was able to wake up Thursday to (he unusual sensation of being the hero of the hour Anelka is only now getting over the after-effects of his training no-show.

Although he returned from his first-team exile after three weeks his fine still applied across the original 45-day ban the club handed him although the punishment has now run its course.

If things are looking up on the pitch, olf it Anelka maintained his habitual post-match routine, disappearing Into the Madrid night without a word, though he reportedly had time to plant two kisses on the cheek of Mari Luz Sanz, the wife of Real president Lorenzo Sanz.

Such affectionate behaviour could be reciprocated should Anelka find the target again In the return leg.

And should he score again at the Stade de France if the Meringues' make it to the final Just 20 kilometres from his home town of Trappes young Nicolas might Just move a little closer to Raul and sidekick Fernando Morientes in the popularity stakes.