European Champions League

Real Madrid 4 – Shakhtar Donetsk 0

Madrid: Keylor Navas; Dani Carvajal, Varane (Pepe 46’), Sergio Ramos (Nacho 59‘), Marcelo; Modric, Kroos; Isco, Bale (Kovacic 31’), Ronaldo; Benzema. 4-2-3-1.
Shakhtar: Pyatov; Srna, Kucher, Rakitskiy, Azevedo; Fred, Stepanenko; Marlos (Kovalenko 74’), Teixeira, Taison (Malyshev 67’); Gladkiy (Bernardo 82’). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 30. Benzema. Turned shot into net after Pyatov dropped soft Isco centre.
2-0. 55. Ronaldo (penalty). After Srna adjudged to have blocked ball with arm.
3-0. 63. Ronaldo (penalty). After Azevedo handled ball inside penalty area.
4-0. 81. Ronaldo. Headed ball into net after Pyatov pushed out Marcelo shot.

Real Madrid kicked off the new European campaign with a 4-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, Ronaldo adding to his five goals at the weekend with another hat-trick tonight. Benzema started things off though on the half hour mark with the easiest of tap-ins after Pyatov dropped Isco’s cross at his feet, and Croatian referee Ivan Bebek gave the locals a helping hand, sending off Stepanenko for a second bookable offence soon after the restart, and then incorrectly awarding a penalty when the ball hit Srna on the back. Ronaldo converted the spot kick though, and then drilled home a second penalty a few minutes later when Azevedo handled in the area, and the Portuguese striker headed his third later on after the keeper could only push out a shot by Marcelo. The bad news for Benítez though was injuries to Bale, Varane and Ramos which used up all his substitutions, although none of the three are likely to be out for long.