Welcome to Sportstar live coverage of UEFA Champions League group F clash between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Four added minutes and a free kick for Shakhtar, taken quickly and it does nothing. Cleared with ease. Now Real on the counter as Benzema runs on the left flank and into the six yard box, crosses it to Assensio and he slots it straight on to the crossbar. CHANCE MISSED! And the final whistle is blown and Real win three out of three group games. Well deserved!
CHANCE! Valverde yet again! He moves across Durasek and finds Benzema who makes a horizontal dribble. Good piece of footwork from him and he eventually shoots but Trubin blocks it off. Looks like Real will continue its unbeaten run
Kroos form the middle finds Benzema on the left, who is just at the edge of the box. He attempts a shot and it is blocked by Bondar. Real are still relentless with their attacks
Less than 10 minutes on the clock and this match could go either way.
Sudakov is brought down by new entrant Camavinga and its a free kick for Shakhtar at a very doable position. Murdryk takes it and fires it straight into the stands. There was a slight deflection off a Real player but the refree says otherwise. Should’ve been a corner for Shakhtar.
Free kick for Real Madrid and Valverde takes it. An ambitious shot way outside the 16 yard box and it isn’t anywhere near the goal post.
Just as we speak, Shakhtar is on the counter with Mudryk running into the Real half. He tries to finish it but the ball goes wide to his right.
Kroos with a wonderful vision to find Benzema, who moves into the 16 yard box, fires it but Trubin is there to deflect it. 25 minutes into the second half and Shakhtar is still struggling to get enough possession, let alone a breakthrough. Real Madrid dictating the game at this moment
Benzema controlling the possession, passes it on to Valverde and he finds Vinícius Júnior. His right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right as Mudryk clears the ball out of danger
Rodrygo, eyeing for a second fires one close range but it goes above the crossbar.
CHANCE! Attempt missed. Aurélien Tchouaméni’s right footed shot from outside the box goes well wide.
FOUL! YELLOW CARD for Bondar for a mindless tackle on Vinicius.
CHANCE! Zubkov’s long ball finds a running Mudryk deep in the Madrid half. He is clear of any obstacle for a moment. He runs into the 16 yard box but Alaba stops him in his tracks. Good awarness from the Austrian.
Kroos to Valverde and he finds Benzema. Lovely little backheel from the Frenchman and the ball is back with Valverde who hits it straight to Trubin. Regulation save for the Ukrainian
Players make their way into the middle. Madrid starts of positively, starts putting pressure on the Shakhtar defense right from the get go. Corner for Real and Alaba takes it. The lob pass finds Rodrygo and he tries a header but its cleared
End of the first half and Real Madrid still maintains the lead. Shakhtar improved its football right before half time as Zubkov scored a crucial goal. Will this be a repeat of the 2020/21 Champions Legaue group stage or will Real Madrid seal the deal? Let’s wait..
REAL MADRID 2-1 (Zubkov 39’) SHAKHTAR DONETSK
GOAALLLLLL!!! Zubkov scores a wonderful wonderful volley, courtesy of a Mykhailichenko assist. Absolutely sensational and he doesn’t celebrate as if it is just another day in his office.
Vinicius cannot believe that he’s missed it. It is Valverde yet again with the cross to Vini who is on the left flank, clear of any defenders, he tries for a left footed volley and it brushes past the sidebar.
CHANCE! Trubin’s awkward clearance almost helped Real triple their lead but a goal line clearance saves Shakhtar from the misery. Benzema gets the ball eventually, shoots but it is punched wide by Trubin. Real’s constant pressure is making Shakhtar commit errors.
REAL MADRID (Vinicius 28’) 2-0 SHAKHTAR DONETSK
GOAAAALLLLL!!! Vinicius - as lethal as it gets. Benzema to Valverde to Rodrygo, beautiful piece of football from the Real attack. Rodrygo then crosses it to Vinicius who slots it coolly to make it 2-0 for Real Madrid.
CHANCE! Valverde at it again. Gets control of the ball, does well to go past a couple of Shakhtar defenders and crosses it to Benzema. He turns and shoots but it is deflected by Trubin. Real Madrid now has 8 shots with 3 on target, Shakhtar feeling the heat
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Valverde on the right, passes to Benzema who sees Vinicius free on the left and picks him perfectly. Vinicius dribbles well and tries for a shot but it is blocked by Trubin. Absolute dominance from the Spanish giant.
REAL MADRID (Rodrygo 13’) 1-0 SHAKHTAR DONETSK
GOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!! Rodrygo gives Real Madrid the well deserved lead. He receives the ball from Vinicius, tries to get past Stepanenko but it gets deflected straight back to him and he capitalises. What a strike to the bottom right of a diving Trubin who gets a faint touch but he can only watch the ball go past him.
Mudryk creating problems for the Real defense. He breaks through as a long ball comes in but Lunin, who comes in running, does well to collect the ball.
Free kick for Real as Vinicius is pulled down, it is taken quickly and the relentless Real attack is underway. Valverde with an optimistic attempt but it goes straight into the stands. Poor try indeed
Lovely bit of football from Rodrygo in the right flank. Gets the ball past two converging Shakhtar defenders and changes the passage of play. Ball now with Vinicius on the left but the attack slows down, soaking the pressure
KICK-OFF! Shakhtar with the first kick of the ball. Rodrygo to Valverde who’s near the 16 yard box, he passes the ball to Benzema who shoots but it is cleared of any danger. Corner for Real and it is quickly taken, nothing major happens
Players observe a moment of silence for the lives lost at the Indonesian stadium stampede.
The players are lined up and are ready to enter the pitch. We are just minutes away from this mouth watering clash.
LINE-UPS!
Real Madrid - Lunin, Carvajal, Miliato, Alaba, Kroos, Benzema(C), Valverde, Tchouameni, Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, Mendy SUBS: Luis Lopez, Canizares, Vallejo, Nacho, Hazard, Modric, Asensio, Camavinga, Odriozola, Lucas, Rudiger, Mariano
Shakhtar Donetsk - Trubin, Bondar, Stepanenko, Sudakov, Shved, Murdryk, Zubkov, Mykhailichenko, Bondarenko, Mativiienko, Koboplia SUBS: Shevchenko, Pyatov, Kryvtosov, Taylor, Kozik, Kryskiv, Djurasek, Topalov, Ocheretko, Petraik, Traore, Sikan
Reigning champion Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk will take each other on in the UEFA Champions League group F fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.
Carlo Ancelotti provided an update on the injuries of his players, revealing that Thibaut Courtois and Dani Ceballos were sidelined with injuries and Luka Modric was back to the training ground but could be left out of the squad.
Where to watch the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk?
The UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk will be live telecast on the Sony sports network and can be live streamed on Sony LIV.