Goals from Miranda, Arda Turan and Leo Baptistao handed Atletico Madrid a 3-1 victory against Zenit St Petersburg.
With Diego Costa out through suspension, Diego Simeone handed Adrian Lopez a start up front, playing alongside summer signing David Villa.
And it was the capital club who got off to the brighter of the starts, with Arda Turan forcing Yuri Lodygin into a good save within the first five minutes.
The game was being played at a frantic pace, with neither side getting a lot of space in midfield to create chances. Hulk tried to force some room for himself 35 yards from goal, but his effort was wild and blazed well over the bar.
Both teams were struggling to find that first gilt-edge chance of the game, but it came towards the end of the half when Koke stabbed an effort from the edge of the area. Unfortunately for the Rojiblancos, the shot trickled wide of the post.
The first goal did eventually come though on 40 minutes, as Koke’s corner found Miranda, who headed in from close range.
After the break, the hosts looked happy to defend their lead, letting Lucino Spalletti’s side have the ball for long periods.
And they eventually paid for that on 58 minutes when Hulk broke with the ball, before ignoring options to pass and firing past Thibaut Courtois.
It wasn’t long however before the Vicente Calderon team were back in front. Koke’s floated free kick wasn’t cleared probably by the Zenit defender, and Arda Turan as on hand to bundle into the back of the net.
Things got even better for Simeone’s side though late on, as Leo Baptistao came off the bench for his Champions League debut and scored with almost his first touch.
Atletico Madrid 3-1 Zenit St Petersburg
Scorers: Miranda 40 (AM), Arda Turan 64 (AM), Leo Baptistao 80 (AM); Hulk 58 (Z)
Atletico Madrid: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Filipe; Mario Suárez, Gabi; Koke, Arda (Raul Garcia 87); Adrián (Leo Baptistao 79), Villa
Zenit: Lodygin; Ansaldi, Lombaerts, Luis Neto (Shatov 45), Hubocan, Smolnikov, Zyryanov (Arshavin 75), Witsel, Hulk (Bystrov 85), Danny, Kerzhakov.
