Real Madrid survive late collapse vs. Shakhtar to win Champions League group
Cristiano Ronaldo carried most of the burden to confirm Madrid’s perch atop Group A with one round to spare. Ronaldo secured his 450th goal to open the scoring inside 20 minutes and supplied Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal for the second and third just after halftime to settle matters. Ronaldo added his second after a marauding Gareth Bale run to seemingly extinguish any hope.
Madrid managed to see out the nervy final minutes to secure the only acceptable result. The proceedings rendered Madrid’s final match again Malmö academic for the Spanish giants, while Shakhtar require a result against Paris-Saint Germain to keep their hopes of a Europa League place alive.
Embattled Madrid manager Benitez made seven changes to his side ahead of this fixture and shifted Ronaldo into a center forward role in his restored 4-3-3 formation. His charges responded well enough to grab firm control in the early stages against underwhelming Shakhtar.
Ronaldo atoned for scooping a presentable chance over the bar inside the opening two minutes when he procured the opener after 18 minutes. Luka Modric created the initial danger with his ball over the top. Gareth Bale punished Shakhtar for reluctant defending and clipped a ball toward the far post. Ronaldo steered his header over the line to stake Madrid to the lead.
Shakhtar offered only modest signs of a response. Mircea Lucescu’s side lacked the verve to truly unsettle a Madrid willing to allow them to explore the wide areas. The ineffectual nature of those attacks permitted Madrid to keep their shape, claim possession in good areas and look to spring Ronaldo into profitable areas behind the line.
More of the Madrid threat stemmed from Ronaldo’s movement off the ball and his willingness to drift out to the channels to locate space. His ventures inevitable reaped more dividends shortly after the interval to settle matters.
Ronaldo once again exploited Shakhtar’s high line with an intelligent run out to the right and latched onto a ball over the top after Madrid won possession. Ronaldo surged forward into the penalty area and then waited a beat for Modric to arrive at the proper time. Modric swept home five minutes into the second half to double the advantage.
Madrid essentially repeated the pattern -- claim the ball in midfield, play over the top and rely on Ronaldo to expose the Shakhtar defense -- on the third two minutes later. Carvajal applied the finishing touch on this occasion with a deft clip inside the far post as Madrid threatened to run away with it.
Shakhtar’s imprecise work in possession continued to undermine their efforts. Another poor turnover in the third cost them a fourth goal. Bale eventually collected on the halfway line and surged forward up the left. His determined run eventually ended when he pulled back on the byline line and spotted Ronaldo’s run on the goal area. Ronaldo saw his first attempt blocked, but he thumped home from close range at the second attempt.
Alex Teixeira continued his searing run in front of goal when he converted from the spot after 77 minutes, while Dentinho nodded home at the far post six minutes later to spark hope of an incomprehensible revival act.
