Angel Di Maria swooped for a late winner for Real Madrid at Champions League opponents Auxerre.
Madrid last won the Champions League in 2002 when Zinedine Zidane's famous volley secured victory over Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park, Glasgow.
They have invested heavily in a mission to reassert themselves in Europe and in the Primera Division, and their summer signing from Benfica came to their rescue in France, firing in well after fellow recent recruit Mesut Ozil found him with a cross to make the breakthrough after 81 minutes and clinch a 1-0 victory.
"A draw away from home is good, but winning is important in the Champions League. We wanted to get the first six points, we risked and we won. Our situation is very good in a very difficult group," said Real coach Jose Mourinho.
"Auxerre are very well organised defensively and had the motivation to play the Champions League and at home. They created some dangerous situations on the counterattack, but we were very well organised. It was not easy to play. In attack we have not had as many chances as before, but we have played the ball well."
