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Champions League

Real Madrid won their first Champions League away game for two years in their hard-earned 2-1 win over Zenit.

The nine-time European champions were fortunate to take a third-minute lead with Tomas Hubocan deflecting Rafael van der Vaart's angled cross into his own net.

Brazilian forward Danny equalised in the 25th minute before Ruud van Nistelrooy scored the winner on the half hour mark.

Unlike their 2-0 win against BATE Borisov in their first Group H game, the Spanish giants were made to sweat as the UEFA Cup holders bristled with aggression, pressing and harassing them after the interval.

Good luck was not on the Russian side, as Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas made crucial saves and Andrei Arshavin saw his 78th-minute effort rebound off the far post.

Madrid enjoyed a strong start and could have taken the lead with two minutes played. Zenit goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev made a stunning save from Gonzalo Higuain's powerful header from Van Nistelrooy's dangerous cross.

The hosts were unfortunate shortly after as Hubocan's poor clearance stunned Malafeev and hit the back of the net.

Madrid continued to push forward and Van Nistelrooy missed a great opportunity to double his team's advantage with his effort from the edge of the area going high over the crossbar.

The visitors may have dominated the opening stages but that soon changed.

With 18 minutes played, Arshavin could not get behind Igor Denisov's cross towards the far post to find the equaliser.

Midway through the first half, Casillas made a good save from Arshavin's central effort as Zenit continued to threaten.

Zenit's pressure finally paid off in the 25th minute, with Arshavin's cross from the left towards the heart of the area finding Danny who got past Gabriel Heinze and flicked the ball past Casillas.

The home fans' joy could have lasted just one minute, had Malafeev not made a crucial save from Van der Vaart´s left-footed effort from outside the area.

But it didn't take long for Bernd Schuster's men to go back in front.

Sebastien Puygrenier's desperate clearance from Van der Vaart's effort fell to Van Nistelrooy inside the area and he made no mistake, coolly firing past Malafeev.

Zenit had a chance to go level before the break with Denisov's angled effort towards the near post forcing Casillas to parry away for a corner.

After half-time, the home fans demanded a penalty as Sergio Ramos looked to have cleared the ball with his hand inside the box with Hubocan ready to head the ball on target. The referee instead showed a yellow card to Hubocan as the game continued.

Zenit continued to look dangerous but Madrid also picked up the pace and were unlucky not to have added to their lead with 55 minutes played after Arjen Robben´s curled effort went inches over the crossbar.

Madrid then allowed the hosts to take command and would have been punished had Casillas not come to the rescue.

The Spanish international made a spectacular one-handed save to deny Konstantin Zyrianov's close-range header while shortly after, Casillas fully stretched to palm away Sirl´s stinging strike.

At the other end, Robben's left-footed effort was saved by Malafeev.

Malafeev's next save was all the more spectacular, with the keeper using his leg to clear Higuain's lobbed effort.

Zenit did not give up and Zyrianov's header from Arshavin's cross went just inches wide off the far post.

Right at the death, Danny was inside the area but fired high over the crossbar as Madrid held on for the victory.