Raul helps give Ramos a winning start at Real
Veteran forward Raul rolled back the years as he bagged a brace to sandwich a goal by Arjen Robben in a 3-0 win over the Russians and cement runners up spot behind Juventus.
Raul’s goals made him the competition’s all-time top scorer with 66 goals ahead of Filippo Inzaghi and gave a fillip to a side whose confidence has been sagging in recent weeks.
Raul bagged his first, as he fired past keeper Vyacheslav Malafeev from the edge of the six-yard box following a Rafael van der Vaart cross.
Five minutes after half-time Raul was the instigator of a fine move as he sent Arjen Robben away to make it 2-0.
And in the 58th minute Robben repaid the compliment with the pass from which Raul made it 3-0.
Zenit will still get a chance to defend their UEFA Cup title as they finished the group in third.
A lacklustre Juventus were held 0-0 at home by minnows BATE Borisov but it was enough for Claudio Ranieri’s men to top Group H.
A Franck Ribery-inspired 3-2 victory at Lyon last night shot Bayern Munich to the top of Group F in rainy conditions in France.
Ribery’s swashbuckling attacking performance left Lyon bereft of ideas. The Frenchman was involved in all three of Bayern’s goals, scoring the second, while Miroslav Klose’s brace left him with five in the competition this season.
Sidney Govou and Karim Benzema earned consolation goals for Claude Puel’s Lyon.
In the other game in Group F, Fiorentina claimed third place to earn a place in the UEFA Cup thanks to victory over Steaua Bucharest.
Alberto Gilardino’s 66th-minute header decided the game in the Serie A side’s favour, while Steaua’s misery was compounded when Pavel Golanski was sent off on 72 minutes.
In Group G, Dynamo Kiev confirmed their UEFA Cup place with a 1-0 win at home to Fenerbahce.
Roman Eremenko’s 20th minute goal gave the Ukrainians victory.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
