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Atletico Madrid logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 18, 2013 at 7.45pm UK
 
Zenit St Petersburg

3-1

Miranda (39'), Turan (64'), Baptistao (80')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Hulk (59')

Atletico Madrid edge past Zenit St Petersburg

Atletico Madrid begin their Champions league campaign with a 3-1 victory over Zenit St Petersburg.

Atletico Madrid made a positive start to their Champions League campaign by beating Zenit St Petersburg 3-1 in the Spanish capital.

Both sides looked threatening early on in Madrid, with Hulk firing a shot wide of the target shortly before David Villa saw a weak effort easily saved by Yuri Lodygin.

Atletico Madrid's Joao Miranda celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Zenit during their Champions League group match on September 18, 2013© Getty Images

Atletico went ahead in the 39th minute when Miranda took advantage of some poor marking to head in a corner from Koke.

The hosts should have doubled their lead just a few moments later but Diego Godin managed to head over from close range following another inviting delivery from Koke.

Aleksandr Kerzhakov tested Thibaut Courtois with a good header but the Belgian goalkeeper responded well to push the ball to safety.

However, Courtois was helpless to prevent Zenit from equalising just a couple of minutes later when Hulk found the top corner of the goal with an unstoppable effort from 30 yards out.

Zenit's Hulk celebrates after scoring the equaliser against Atletico Madrid during the Champions League on September 18, 2013© Getty Images

Hulk almost repeated the trick when he targeted the top corner from long range again but his free kick struck the crossbar on this occasion.

Atletico hit back to regain the lead in the 64th minute as Koke once again caused problems with a good cross and Zenit were punished for failing to clear when Arda Turan bundled the ball home from close range.

The home side completed an impressive start to the group stage in the 80th minute when substitute Leo Baptistao collected the ball on the edge of the box before curling it into the bottom corner of the goal.

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Atletico Madrid's Joao Miranda celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Zenit during their Champions League group match on September 18, 2013
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