Karim Benzema’s double took Real Madrid top of Group D as they held off a spirited Shakhtar Donetsk side in the Champions League.
Benzema tapped in the opener to record Real’s 1,000th goal in European football’s elite club competition.
The France forward swept in a second following good work from Vinicius Junior and Casemiro after Fernando had deservedly levelled for Shakhtar.
Sheriff Tiraspol host Inter Milan in Wednesday’s other Group D game.
The Moldovan debutants could yet leapfrog Real by virtue of their head-to-head record if they beat the Italian champions.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti will be thankful for Benzema’s clinical contribution in a contest that saw his side flatter to deceive against opposition they had thrashed in the reverse fixture little over two weeks ago.
Luka Modric twice had good opportunities to put the hosts in front early on but they dropped off the pace after Benzema turned home the opener courtesy of a shocking mix-up between visiting goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin and defender Marlon.
Alan Patrick, who had earlier hit the post for Roberto de Zerbi’s side, superbly chested the ball into Fernando’s path for the equaliser, with the Brazilian forward lashing his effort past home goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois into the roof of the net.
But Benzema’s second of the evening from a glorious move proved decisive for the hosts, who have now won four of their last five matches in all competitions.
Line-ups
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Courtois
- 2CarvajalSubstituted forNachoat 66′minutes
- 3Militão
- 4Alaba
- 23MendyBooked at 39mins
- 10Modric
- 14CasemiroBooked at 63mins
- 8Kroos
- 17Vázquez
- 9BenzemaSubstituted forJovicat 79′minutes
- 20Vinícius Júnior
Substitutes
- 5Vallejo
- 6Nacho
- 7E Hazard
- 11Asensio
- 12Marcelo
- 13Lunin
- 16Jovic
- 22Isco
- 25Camavinga
- 27Blanco
- 35Gutiérrez
- 40Fuidias
Shakhtar Donetsk
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 81Trubin
- 2Cordeiro Dos Santos
- 5Santos da Silva Barbosa
- 22Matvienko
- 31dos Santos
- 7de Andrade Barberan
- 6StepanenkoSubstituted forSudakovat 80′minutes
- 14Cardoso Lemos MartinsSubstituted forMarlosat 79′minutes
- 21LourencoSubstituted forMarcos Antônioat 79′minutes
- 20MudrykSubstituted forSolomonat 71′minutes
- 99Dos Santos PedroSubstituted forDentinhoat 86′minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 3da Silva Matos
- 4Kryvtsov
- 8Marcos Antônio
- 9Dentinho
- 11Marlos
- 15Bondarenko
- 19Solomon
- 25Sudakov
- 26Konoplya
- 30Pyatov
- 44Korniienko
- 45Sikan
- Referee:
- Benoît Bastien
- Attendance:
- 38,105
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Real Madrid 2, Shakhtar Donetsk 1.
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Second Half ends, Real Madrid 2, Shakhtar Donetsk 1.
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Dentinho (Shakhtar Donetsk) is shown the yellow card.
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Luka Jovic (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Mykola Matvienko (Shakhtar Donetsk).
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Attempt blocked. Heorhii Sudakov (Shakhtar Donetsk) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marcos Antônio.
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Attempt saved. Heorhii Sudakov (Shakhtar Donetsk) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Manor Solomon.
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Attempt saved. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Vinícius Júnior.
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Luka Jovic (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Marcos Antônio (Shakhtar Donetsk).
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Eder Militão (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Dentinho (Shakhtar Donetsk).
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Substitution, Shakhtar Donetsk. Dentinho replaces Fernando.
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Attempt saved. Eder Militão (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Luka Modric with a cross.
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Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Manor Solomon.
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Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Heorhii Sudakov (Shakhtar Donetsk).
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Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Marlon Santos (Shakhtar Donetsk).
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Attempt missed. Ismaily (Shakhtar Donetsk) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Marlos Bonfim.
