Ronaldo back to help Real move closer to qualification
Thursday November 26 2009
Real Madrid took a step closer to the last 16 of the Champions League after easing past FC Zurich last night in a match that saw the return to action of Cristiano Ronaldo following injury.
Gonzalo Higuain struck the only goal of a game that Madrid bossed in terms of possession and territory. The win lifted Madrid to the top of Group C and they are now two points clear of AC Milan and three clear of Marseille, who Manuel Pellegrini's side play in their final match. Milan and Marseille drew 1-1 in last night's other group game.
The other good news for the Spanish giants was the return of Ronaldo. The £80m man has missed Madrid's last 10 matches after suffering an ankle injury in the previous clash with Marseille on September 30, but he appeared as a second-half substitute.
Madrid will be delighted to have him back in the fold ahead of this weekend's Primera Division showdown with Barcelona.
Madrid started on the front foot and it took the home side only 11 minutes to break the deadlock, with Higuain the man on the mark after picking up Kaka's through-ball and slotting low past Leoni.
It was pretty much all Madrid in the first half, and the home side almost doubled their lead five minutes later when Xabi Alonso drew another fine save from Leoni.
As has been the case on previous occasions this season, though, Madrid failed to build on that early momentum and they had to wait until the 65th minute to next test Leoni, with substitute Rafael van der Vaart the man to try his luck.
Three minutes after that effort Pellegrini decided it was time to throw Ronaldo into the fray, the Portuguese superstar receiving a huge ovation as he replaced Raul.
Zurich had a couple of attacks late on that will have tested the home side's nerves, but they came to nothing as the visitors crashed out of the Europe.
- Real Madrid 1 FC Zurich 0 Mike Perez
Irish Independent
