Real brush Zenit aside with Raul double
Friday, 12 December 2008
MADRID, Dec 11 (Reuters): Real Madrid striker Raul extended his Champions League goals tally to 64 with a double in a 3-0 victory over Zenit St Petersburg in Group H Wednesday which handed new coach Juande Ramos a winning start.
Raul, the leading Champions League scorer, struck midway through first half following an error from visiting goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev.
Arjen Robben doubled the advantage just after the re-start and set up Raul for his second soon after. Although Zenit twice hit the woodwork late on, they rarely threatened the home goal.
Real had already qualified for the knockout phase and go through as group runners-up behind Juventus.
After a poor run of form, a victory with a clean sheet will give Real a much needed lift ahead of Saturday's trip to face arch-rivals Barcelona in the Primera Liga.
Raul, the leading Champions League scorer, struck midway through first half following an error from visiting goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev.
Arjen Robben doubled the advantage just after the re-start and set up Raul for his second soon after. Although Zenit twice hit the woodwork late on, they rarely threatened the home goal.
Real had already qualified for the knockout phase and go through as group runners-up behind Juventus.
After a poor run of form, a victory with a clean sheet will give Real a much needed lift ahead of Saturday's trip to face arch-rivals Barcelona in the Primera Liga.