Ronaldo scores two free kicks as Real Madrid win 5-2

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice from free kicks as Real Madrid began their Champions League campaign with a 5-2 win at FC Zurich on Tuesday despite a brave fightback from the rank outsiders.

The nine-times European champions appeared to be cruising when Ronaldo, Raul and Gonzalo Higuain scored in a devastating 18-minute spell before halftime in the Group C game.

Ronaldo converted a free kick in the 27th minute, Raul slid in Higuain’s angled shot seven minutes later and Higuain fired in the third in first-half stoppage time.

Zurich, who failed to test keeper Iker Casillas in the first hour, hit back when Xavier Margairaz converted a 64th-minute penalty and Silvan Aegerter headed another from a corner.

Ronaldo scored with a long-range effort in the 89th which slipped through goalkeeper Johnny Leoni’s hands before Guti got the fifth in stoppage time.