Real Madrid was at ease as they dominate Shakhtar Donetsk in the third match of their Champions League group stage 2022.
It leaves Real Madrid on the verge of qualification to the knock-out stage and a win against Shakhtar next week would ascertain their place in the next round.
Two games after his return from injury, Benzema had eight shots throughout the match against Shakhtar but was unable to find the back of the net.
All goals from the match were in the first half. Rodrygo opened the show for the hosts in the 13th minute, firing home a goal from Tchouameni’s pass and putting Real Madrid in front.
In the 28th minute, Rodrygo played a perfectly-weighted pass to find Vinicius for his compatriot’s goal. He now had a goal and an assist.
Ancelotti’s men relaxed a bit, as Zubkov pulled a goal back for Shakhtar to make it 2-1. He scored with a well-taken volley after a smart cross from Mykhailichenko out the left side.
Shakhtar Donetsk have the highest shot conversion rate in the UEFA Champions League this season (50 per cent), having found the net with five of their ten attempts overall.
Madrid lost many chances both in the first and second halves, there were no forthcoming goals anymore.
At the end of 90 minutes, Madrid ran out deserving winners here at the Santiago Bernabeu but it wasn’t quite as comfortable as they would have liked.
Both of these teams would be back in action next Tuesday, when Madrid travels to Polish Army Stadium to lock horns with Shakhtar in the reverse fixture.
