Real Madrid clashed heads with Shakhtar Donetsk at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev earlier tonight as they focused on securing all three points on the road in the UEFA Champions League. Los Blancos made a bright start to the first half and took the lead in the 37th minute courtesy of an own goal from Serhiy Kryvtsov. The Madrid outfit went into the half-time break with a narrow one-goal lead.
Vinicius Junior scored a quick-fire brace to put his team in a commanding position at around the hour mark. Rodrygo added another goal in the 64th minute before Karim Benzema put the icing on the cake in injury-time when he got his name on the scoresheet. The contest finished 5-0 in favour of Los Blancos as they went on claim maximum points from this European game.
Let’s take a look at how each Real Madrid player performed during the match against Shakhtar.
GK: Thibaut Courtois – 8/10
The Belgian keeper made a number of key saves to deny the opposition a goal. He will be quite happy with the clean sheet tonight.
RB: Lucas Vazquez – 7/10
The Spaniard didn’t have to do too much defending inside his half and managed to engineer a couple of good chances in the final third.
CB: Eder Militao – 7.5/10
The Brazilian talent read the danger quickly and performed well enough to keep the Shakhtar attackers frustrated throughout the 90 minutes.
CB: David Alaba – 7/10
He cleared his lines when required and made one good chance going forward. Alaba was also neat with his passing.
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LB: Ferland Mendy – 7/10
Mendy kept a solid shape at the back and was quite lively going forward. He got replaced in the 68th minute.
CM: Luka Modric – 8/10
Modric was responsible for engineering a few clear-cut chances for his teammates up top. The Croat has got an assist to show for his efforts.
CM: Casemiro – 7/10
The Brazilian got stuck in with a few tackles to make life difficult for the opposition at the centre of the park.
CM: Toni Kroos – 8/10
The German sensation ran the show at the centre of the park. He made some solid challenges and was a constant menace in the Shakhtar half.
RW: Rodrygo – 8/10
Rodrygo had a quiet first half but came back and produced a brilliant display in the second. He got rewarded with a goal just after the hour mark.
ST: Karim Benzema – 9.5/10
The French striker caused all kinds of problems for the Shakhtar defenders and finished the game with a goal and an assist to his name.
LW: Vinicius Junior – 9.5/10
He was a major headache for the opposition out on the wide areas. Vinicius Junior made some promising runs with the ball and scored two quick-fire goals after the half-time break to secure the points for the visitors. He has also got an assist to his name.
Substitutes:
LB: Marcelo – 6/10
It was a welcome return to action for the Brazilian left-back.
CM: Federico Valverde – 6/10
Valverde added some energy to Carlo Ancelotti‘s midfield.
CM: Eduardo Camavinga – 6/10
The youngster put in a nice cameo after coming off the bench.
RW: Marco Asensio – 6.5/10
The Spaniard set up Benzema’s late goal.
CB: Jesus Vallejo – N/A
He hardly got any time to influence the game.
