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Ronaldo celebrates - Source: Reuters -
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Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice from free kicks as Real Madrid began their Champions League campaign with a 5-2 win at FC Zurich on Wednesday despite a brave fightback from the rank outsiders.
The nine-times European champions appeared to be cruising in their first Champions League outing since their 250-million-euro spending spree when Ronaldo, Raul and Gonzalo Higuain scored in an 18-minute spell before halftime in the Group C game.
The Swiss champions hit back with two goals in a minute during the second half but two late goals restored Real's three-goal lead.
Portuguese forward Ronaldo, taunted by Zurich fans insulting him in Spanish, opened the scoring with a rasping free kick from the edge of the area, his third goal in as many games since his record 80-million-pound move from Manchester United.
Angled shot
Raul slid in Higuain's angled shot seven minutes later to take his Champions League tally to 65 goals and Higuain, repeatedly overlooked by Argentina coach Diego Maradona, himself fired the third in first-half stoppage time.
But Zurich, who failed to test Iker Casillas in the first hour, suddenly came to life.
Xavier Margairaz converted a 64th-minute penalty after Casillas had upended Alexandre Alphonse. Immediately after that Silvan Aegerter headed another at the near post from a corner.
Ronaldo ended their comeback with a long-range effort in the 89th minute which slipped through goalkeeper Johnny Leoni's hands.
Guti completed the scoring when he chipped the ball over the advancing Leoni from around 25 metres in stoppage time.
