Real beat unlucky Zenit

SAINT PETERSBURG.

Real Madrid maintained their unbeaten start in the Champions League group stage with a 2-1 win over Zenit St Petersburg on Tuesday making it the first time in five years they have won their opening two matches.

Real captain Iker Casillas was relieved to come away with a win after sustained pressure from Zenit failed to down the nine-time champions.

"In the end we suffered more than we should have done," said Spain's Euro 2008-winning keeper. "But we've got six points, these are important before we play Juventus in our next match. We've taken a giant step (towards the next stage)."

Real coach Bernd Schuster, who was having to make do without injured midfielder Guti, started Raul on the bench as he and his multi-millionaire squad went in search of a follow up win after seeing off BATE Borisov of Belarus a fortnight ago.