Another Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick was the highlight of the night in Real Madrid's 4-0 demolition of Shakhtar Donetsk.
Raphael Varane, Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema all had good opportunities early in the first period but couldn’t find the target before the French striker puts into the net on the half-hour mark.
Ronaldo managed to add a second from the penalty spot shortly after the restart aswell as another two, to secure the three points in their opening group match.
Early opportunities
It was Madrid who were dominant from the word go with Varane having the first opportunity three minutes in when he picked up the ball from the corner and managed to cut inside, but his shot was wide of the target.
It was Bale’s turn 12 minutes in when he attempted a cheeky flick from Isco’s low cross into the area, however it was easy to gather for Andriy Pyatov.
Benzema came even closer but wasted his excellent opportunity, Ronaldo turned brilliantly before playing a through ball to the Frenchman who managed to take it around Pyatov but somehow managed to blaze his effort over the crossbar with the goal gaping.
Benzema hits home
He managed to redeem himself on the half-hour mark when he gave Madrid the lead. Pyatov made a horrific error when he dropped Isco’s seemingly harmless cross at the feet of Benzema and he didn’t miss this time around when he tapped it into the net.
Rafael Benitez’s side didn’t stop there as they looked to get their second goal of the match, Luka Modric came close five minutes from the break after he got onto Mateo Kovacic’s flick and took a touch before striking the shot wide.
Ronaldo adds a second
It got worse after the break for the visiting side when they were reduced to ten men, when Taras Stepaneko received his second yellow as the referee pointed to the spot.
Ronaldo’s shot seemed to come off the back of Srna and the Portuguese forward appealed for the spot kick and managed to get it. That same man stepped up to the mark, and coolly slotted home, doubling their lead in controversial circumstances.
Three to the good
Ronaldo managed to get his seventh goal of the week when Azevedo was penalised for a handball, and for the second time in a little under ten minutes Ronaldo was standing over the penalty spot. It was a repeat of the last one, as he buried his strike into the same corner as before.
Benzema may have already had one goal to his name but could have easily added two more as he fluffed another sitter in the 77th minute, when Isco put an excellent ball on a plate at the back post for the Frenchman but once again he somehow managed to head it over the target.
Ronaldo rounds it off
Ronaldo managed to round off his hat-trick, and his 80th Champions League goal, with ten minutes left, Marcelo’s deflected shot was palmed away by Pyatov but once again Ronaldo once again was alive to the situation and headed home the rebound to secure the three points.