Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo returned to action for the first time after nearly two months out because of an ankle injury, coming on for the last 20 minutes of Real Madrid's 1-0 over FC Zurich that moved it closer to clinching a berth in second phase. Ronaldo's appearance comes four days before the Merengues face archrival Barcelona in their top-of-the-table La Liga clash.

"It's good to be back," Ronaldo said. "My motivation is high and I want to be as strong as I was before. The ankle responded well and I managed to push aside this mental worry. I'm coming back now from over one month off and it's normal not to be 100 per cent. That's OK, because with more games you find your rhythm and I want to play to help the team as soon as possible. It felt like normal but I know that I'm still not at the same pace as my teammates."

Franco-Argentine Gonzalo Higuain scored for Real Madrid, which is in first in Group C and will clinch a spot in the final 16 with at least a tie in its last game against Marseille.