Cristiano Ronaldo scores a brace as Real Madrid drub debutants Zurich 5-2

Updated on: 16 September,2009 07:16 AM IST |
AFP |

Cristiano Ronaldo scores a brace as Real Madrid drub debutants Zurich 5-2

Real Madrid began their bid to reach the Champions League final at their Santiago Bernabeu stadium with a 5-2 Group C win at debutants FC Zurich yesterday although it was far more difficult than the scoreline suggests.

Real surged into a 3-0 first-half lead after Cristiano Ronaldo made it three goals in as many games with his first Champions League goal for Real before Raul and Gonzalo Higuain both netted. However, nine-time European champions Real had to withstand a sterling second-half comeback from Zurich who scored twice in two minutes to give Real a jittery final 20 minutes before Ronaldo and Guti scored late on. Veteran Guti conceded that they had relaxed too much.

Higuain thought otherwise saying that Real had shown they were in a different class to their opponents.

"I don't think we relaxed too much," said Higuain. "They got two quick goals and then we had to step it up." It was not the convincing display Real coach Manuel Pellegrini wanted from his 'Galacticos' and Real will have to lift their game if they want to improve onu00a0 a miserable run of failing to get past the last 16 stage for the past five seasons.

Pellegrini has been rotating his ample squad early in the season so both Higuain and Dutch defender Roysten Drenthe started after sitting out the 3-0 win over Espanyol on Saturday. Ronaldo, Kaka and Xabi Alonso who all won this competition with their previous clubs made their Champions League debuts for Real to leave Zurich, making their debut in the group phase, a bit overawed.

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