European Champions League

Real Madrid 1 - Zurich 0

Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Raúl Albiol, Pepe, Arbeloa (Van der Vaart 57'); Lass, Xabi Alonso; Kaká (Granero 89'), Raúl (Cristian Ronaldo 70'), Marcelo; Higuaín. 4-2-3-1.
Zurich: Leoni; Stahel, Tihinen, Barmettler, Koch; Gajic (Vonlanthen 75'), Aegerter, Margairaz, Rochat, Djuric (Schönbächler 87'); Alphonse (Mehmedi 85'). 4-5-1.

Goals:
1-0. 21. Higuaín. Ran on to Kaká through ball and shot wide of Leoni.

Real Madrid are virtually sure of a place in the knock-out stage after a 1-0 win over FC Zurich on Wednesday evening. It was not a confident win though, and there whistles from sections of the home crowd at the end.

For the second match in a row Higuaín got the only goal, running on to Kaká's through ball to beat Leoni midway through the first half. Kaká and Xabi Alonso brought good saves out of the keeper, and Marcelo hit the post before the break, but after the restart the pace slowed, and the Swiss side themselves could have got back in the match.

Pellegrini brought on Cristian Ronaldo for a run out prior to Sunday's game in the Nou Camp, and he too tested the keeper late on. Shortly before that Van der Vaart had blasted a good chance over the top, but otherwise chances were few and far between.

A win though which means that nothing short of a big defeat in the last match in Marseille will avoid a place in the last sixteen. However they'll have to pull their socks up if they are to take anything away from Barcelona at the weekend.