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Juande Ramos
Excellent start at Madrid: Juande Ramos

Ramos off to perfect start

11 Dec 2008


Juande Ramos marked his first game in charge of Real Madrid with a convincing victory at the Bernabeu but it was not enough for Real Madrid to finish top of Champions League Group H.

Raul grabbed a brilliant brace as the Ramos era began with a 3-0 win over Zenit St Petersburg, but it was Italian giants Juventus who progressed as group winners courtesy of a goalless draw against BATE Borisov.

Madrid and Juve progressed to the last 16 level on 12 points, although Claudio Ranieri's side could have made it through in more convincing fashion had Sebastian Giovinco not missed a 53rd-minute penalty.

Madrid hit the front after 25 minutes, Zenit goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev dropping Rafael van der Vaart's cross into the path of Raul, who fired home with ease.

Arjen Robben made it 2-0 with a stunning chipped effort early in the second period, while Raul continued the sublime forward play in the 57th minute when he lifted a sumptuous lob over the advancing Malafeev.

Bayern Munich ensured they progressed as winners of Group F after a 3-2 win at Lyon.
The German champions raced into a 3-0 lead inside the first half but a spirited fightback by Lyon after the break made for a thrilling encounter.

Miroslav Klose opened the scoring for Bayern after 11 minutes, midfielder Franck Ribery made it 2-0 after 34 minutes and Klose added his second of the night three minutes later.

Sidney Govou pulled one back for Lyon after 53 minutes and Karim Benzema made it 3-2, but Claude Puel's men failed to find an equaliser.

Elsewhere in Group F, Fiorentina sealed their place in the UEFA Cup as Alberto Gilardino's 66th-minute strike secured a 1-0 win over Steaua Bucharest, who had Pawel Golanski sent off 18 minutes from time.

In Group G, Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev made sure of their place in the UEFA Cup courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Turkish outfit Fenerbahce, Roman Eremenko grabbing the game's only goal after 20 minutes.

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