Real Madrid thrash Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League
Real Madrid beat Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 on Tuesday to get their Champions League campaign back on track. Vinicius Junior scored twice, including a spectacular solo goal.
Real Madrid won 5-0 against Shakhtar Donetsk in Kyiv to avenge their stunning loss to Sheriff Tiraspol. Serhiy Kryvtsov cut in a Lucas Vázquez cross past his own goalkeeper for a dramatic 37th-minute own goal, giving Zinedine Zidane’s team a 1-0 half-time lead. Vincius Jnior scored two fantastic goals in five minutes in the second half, first Luka Modric’s superb through play before an individual performance that saw the Brazilian go past three defenders. Vincius provided the assist for Rodrygo’s fourth goal, and Karim Benzema added a fifth in stoppage time.
After a humbling defeat to newcomer Sheriff in the last European encounter, Carlo Ancelotti’s team was at its most potent. It’s also a crucial win for Madrid, who face Barcelona in the El Clasico on Sunday.
In the 37th minute, Shakhtar captain Sergiy Kryvtsov turned a Lucas Vazquez cross into his own net, extending Madrid’s advantage. After Luka Modric snuck a pass through after being teed up by Karim Benzema, Vinicius lit up the start of the second half by clipping the ball over goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin in the 51st minute.
Five minutes later, Vinicius was on target again, cutting past Dodo and then Kryvtsov in the penalty area before shooting into the net. In the 64th minute, the Brazilian teenager set up fellow countryman Rodrygo for a goal.
After coming on the end of Marco Asensio’s cross in stoppage time, Benzema completed the route.
➕3️⃣ #UCL pic.twitter.com/5T4qIpfB7c
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) October 19, 2021
Vinicius commented on his second goal, saying: “It’s a move I always do in training and it comes off, but in games, it’s harder sometimes. I’m really happy with the goal.”
With six points, Madrid, the 13-time European champion, has climbed up to the second position in Group D. Despite losing 3-1 at Inter Milan, Sheriff maintains his advantage in the head-to-head with Madrid.
“It was an important game after the defeat at home. We played well, we scored goals, we didn’t concede, it’s a good result for us,” Benzema said. “Let’s hope I can keep going like this, help my team on the pitch, I want to win, if I can help with goals it’s good for everyone.”
Ancelotti was happy with his team’s performance but cautioned against getting too excited ahead of LaLiga’s most important rivalry.
“It’s difficult to highlight one player, everyone did well. We defended well, we were focused from the start, we applied our strategy well. The team was dangerous on the break. It’s a game which gives us confidence, that’s normal, but against Barcelona, it’s another game and another story.”