MADRID, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Juande Ramos began his time as Real Madrid coach with a straightforward 3-0 win at home to Zenit Saint Petersburg in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Ramos was named as the replacement for Bernd Schuster on Tuesday and had only worked with the Real Madrid team for one training session.

Real Madrid's coach Juande Ramos gives instructions to his players during their Champions League soccer match against Zenit Saint Petersburg in Madrid December 10, 2008.

However, he could not have wished for easier rivals to ease him into his new job than the Russian side.

Although Zenit won the UEFA Cup last year and the European Supercup at the start of this season, the team has been very disappointing in the Champions League.

The Russians kicked off knowing they could not qualify for the last 16 in the Champions, but also knowing they would have to lose heavily to finish last in the group and miss out on a place in the next round of the UEFA Cup.

As a result they were well off the pace against a Real Madrid side that looked more motivated as the players looked to please their new coach. Nevertheless it took a mistake from Zenit keeper Vyacheslav Malafeev to allow Raul Gonzalez to score from close range.

Malafeev misjudged a cross from the Madrid left and palmed the ball straight into Raul's path for him to open the scoring.

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