Bar the English interest, this was the pick of the ties for the second match-day in the Champions League. The UEFA Cup and Super Cup holders face the Spanish Champions, with a plethora of big names on either side. The big news was the absence of Club legend and Champions league record goal-scorer Raul Gonzalez, with Gonzalo Higuain stepping in as he has done recently.

Within the opening 2 minutes, a Ruud Van Nistlerooy cross reached Higuain, whose powerful header was tipped over the bar by Malafeev. It was a sign of things to come in an opening and exciting match. Very soon after this warning, Van Der Vaart slid ball across the box and Hubocan, the Slovakian defender, knocked it in with Van Nistlerooy lurking. Robben then caused danger by playing the ball to the strikers, and it broke loose for Van Nistlerooy, but his shot was blocked by a last ditch lunge.

On 10 minutes, Robben beat two men and reached the by-line. He crossed low across the box, but fortunately for Zenit, the ball was cut out for a corner. The Zenit players didn’t seem to move out of their box quickly or press well, despite their reputation as a well drilled unit. Los Blancos were playing their best football of the season in the opening 15 minutes, with Zenit shell-shocked. Soon after Zenit got back into the game, as the full-back Sirl was on the end of a fine passing move, but his cross was cut out before it reached Pobgrebniak, the Russian striker, who missed out on Euro 2008 due to a knee injury.

Yet there were still glimpses of threat to Zenit, who struggled with Madrid’s mobile play and especially their crosses, with Hubocan once more getting a last ditch touch. Zenit’s full backs began to influence proceedings with Sirl crossing but neither Arshavin nor Pobgrebniak could add the finishing touch. Soon after Zenit broke, as Higuain’s pass was behind Ramos, with two consecutive dummies from Zenit fooling the Real defence, but as was the story of the game, Zenit couldn’t make their domination of the situation tell. Iker Casillas bravely dived on the ball ahead of Pobgrebniak, the keeper taking a kick in the chest for his troubles, but the lead remained intact.

The attacking pressure from the Russians continued as Arshavin shot from edge of box, but it was comfortably into the arms of Casillas. But on 24 minutes, the £24 million pound signing from Dinamo Moscow, Danny, met a Arshavin cross at the far post, with a fine stabbed finish. Ramos failed to pick up Arshavin in his defensive area and it proved costly, while Cannavaro played Arshavin onside before the original move. Van Der Vaart could have restored the lead almost instantaneously but his shot was palmed away by Malafeev.

On the half hour mark, Van Der Vaart shot directed into the path of Ruud Van Nistlerooy, by a flailing Zenit foot, and the prolific striker fired in his 62^nd goal in only 87 appearances for the club. Who needs Raul, who was anonymous at Betis on the weekend, when you have this man? Another Dutchman almost helped make it three, with a delightful backheeled flick into the path of Higuain, who lifted his shot over the keeper and the bar under pressure from the last man. As the half drew to a close, the game became stretched as a Denisov cross was palmed out for a corner by Casillas, from which the ball was deflected a number of times and eventually ended up in the arms of a grateful Casillas. The Real Madrid legend threw the ball out to Arjen Robben, who turned his man a number of times, but his ball across the six yard box couldn’t be turned in by Argentine Higuain.

Anyukov drew a corner but the Swiss referee Massimo Busacca blew for the interval, much to the anger of several members of the Russian giants, who felt they could have made the most of the corner. The second half began with Zenit attacking and it almost resulted in a goal. Tomas Hubocan, desperate to atone for his earlier error, went for the header and there were shouts for handball from the Zenit players, but was Hubocan who was surprisingly booked. The game always had an edge and Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy quickly followed the Slovakian into the book for a foul on Andrei Arshavin.

Arshavin played an instinctive reverse pass to Anyukov but move, one of several promising attacks, broke down. Real faced wave after wave of Zenit attacks, with several goalmouth scrambles occurring, while Casillas was performing heroics as usual. The best chance came to Pobgrebniak who spooned his shot over as he fell down close to the goal line. The game was essentially a rematch of the Euro 2008 semi-final between Russia and Spain, but this time the Russians were far more influential in their play, with Arshavin particularly menacing. Real’s defence moved deeper and deeper as they tried to stop the Russians getting in behind, causing their strikers to be isolated up front. But when they did Higuain’s shot was saved.

Fatih Tekke’s effort from Dominguez’s cross was saved at point blank range by Casillas, while at the other end Real’s forwards managed another counter attack, as Robben took on his man but dragged his shot wide. On 78 minutes, Zenit exploited Ramos’ adventurous attacking play, by attacking the space he leaves behind him, with Arshavin hits the post from the resultant cross. In stoppage time, Arshavin cut inside, fooling Van Nistlerooy (yes, Real were being dragged back to such an extent) and Heinze, and setting up Danny, whose effort went over with aid of Pepe. It was unthinkable as to how the home side hadn’t forced home an equaliser. Zenit dominated but didn’t find the cutting edge which any Champions League challenging side needs.

It is quite right to say the Spanish Champions stole all three points, especially based on the second half. Real showed great resilience and clinical finishing and needed a huge amount of luck to escape as they did. Zenit will be wondering how they have zero points after two games in which they should have taken at least two points.