FIVE-STAR MADRID SHINE AGAINST SHAKTHAR

Spanish giants avenged their double defeat against Ukrainian club football giants Shakthar Donetsk following their 5-0 away win over the same team in the first of their two Champions League meetings this season.


Shakthar Donetsk stunned the footballing world last season when they defeated Shakthar Donetsk twice in the group stage and Real Madrid were handed the chance to make things right when they were drawn together when the draw for this season’s Champions League group stage was held in August. Real Madrid took the opportunity to make things right after the double defeat from last season thanks to the5-0 away win over their Ukrainian opponent.

Real Madrid were able to secure a big win away from home without important players such as Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale. Belgian international Hazard sustained an injury while he was on national team duty this month. Welshman Bale has been injured since September when he suffered an hamstring injury in training.

In the absence of experienced players such as Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard, a few young players found the back of the net at the expense of Shakthar Donetsk.

Serhiy Kryvtsov was the Shakthar Donetsk skipper for the visit of Real Madrid and he started the floodgates when he put through his own goal eight minutes before the half-time interval off the long pass from Spanish international Lucas Vazquez. The unfortunate own goal gave Real Madrid a first half lead.

Brazilian attacker Vinicius Junior scored the first of his brace six minutes into the second half to double the lead for Real Madrid before he scored a solo goal five minutes later to extend his team’s advantage. The third Madrid goal from Vinicius Junior was the best goal of the game. He also provided the fourth goal for fellow young Brazilian attacker Rodrygo Goes on 64 minutes. Leading Madrid goalscorer Karim Benzema wrapped up the big victory with the fifth Madrid goal in stoppage time.