Match ends, Real Madrid 2, Shakhtar Donetsk 1.
Real MadridReal Madrid2Shakhtar DonetskShakhtar Donetsk1
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.
Inter Milan won 3-1 at Sheriff Tiraspol in Wednesday's other Group D game.
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
- 14TetêSubstituted forMarlosat 80'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
Home TeamReal MadridAway TeamShakhtar Donetsk
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away5
- Corners
- Home4
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 2, Shakhtar Donetsk 1.
Booking
Dentinho (Shakhtar Donetsk) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Luka Jovic (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Mykola Matvienko (Shakhtar Donetsk).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Heorhii Sudakov (Shakhtar Donetsk) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marcos Antônio.
Post update
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.
Post update
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.
Post update
Luka Jovic (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Marcos Antônio (Shakhtar Donetsk).
Post update
Eder Militão (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Dentinho (Shakhtar Donetsk).
Substitution
Substitution, Shakhtar Donetsk. Dentinho replaces Fernando.
Post update
Attempt saved. Eder Militão (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Luka Modric with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Manor Solomon.
Post update
Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Heorhii Sudakov (Shakhtar Donetsk).
Post update
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Marlon Santos (Shakhtar Donetsk).
Post update
Attempt missed. Ismaily (Shakhtar Donetsk) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Marlos Bonfim.
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