Raul true to form and sends Real through with Juventus

GROUP H: Real Madrid beat Champions League debutants BATE Borisov 1-0 last night to join Juventus in the first knock-out round, leaving Zenit St Petersburg in third place with the consolation of qualifying for the Uefa Cup.

A seventh-minute goal by Raul was enough to give Real Madrid a 1-0 win at BATE to send the nine-time champions through.

Raul's goal was his record-tying 64th goal in all European competition, a statistic he know shares with AC Milan's Filippo Inzaghi.

The Belarus champions struggled in the first half and rarely had a clear sight of the net while Real always looked likely to add more goals.

"The team came out really focused and the early goal allowed us to settle quickly," Raul said after the game which was played in freezing conditions.

"We knew it was a final for them and they would give their all, and in conditions they would be more used to. But this is an important win that means we can approach the last game much more relaxed."

Zenit, who qualify for the Uefa Cup, were held to a 0-0 home draw by Juventus earlier yesterday as their hopes of reaching the Champions League knock-out round faded away.

The Italians, who had already qualified for the last 16, dominated in the first half and hit the post twice. The home side, who had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half, increased the pressure after the interval but wasted a number of chances.

GROUP F: Bayern Munich, who defeated Steaua Bucharest 3-0 and Olympique Lyon, who edged to a 2-1 win at Fiorentina, both progressed to the next round. Bayern created and missed chances galore against the overwhelmed visitors before Miroslav Klose pounced to put them ahead early in the second half with the first of his two goals.

Klose then set up Italian striker Toni to score his first Champions League goal with a diving header and the Germany striker took advantage of a great run and pass from Franck Ribery to seal a commanding victory a few minutes later.

Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun fired Lyon ahead in the 15th minute and France striker Karim Benzema drove in from outside the box after a strong run from midfield to double the lead 12 minutes later.

Italy forward Alberto Gilardino pulled one back for Fiorentina on the stroke of half-time when he headed a Mario Alberto Santana cross into the top corner.

Both sides kept attacking in the second half. Juninho hit the crossbar with a free-kick and Fiorentina's Zdravko Kuzmanovic hit the post with a deflected shot before Lyon's Ederson gave the woodwork another pounding in the closing stages.

The two leaders have 11 points apiece and will fight it out for top spot when they meet in France next month.

Steaua remain bottom of the group with a single point, two behind Fiorentina and with a Uefa Cup place still to play for in their final game in Bucharest.