Madrid will be taking confidence from the comfortable win they recorded in the reverse fixture at the Bernabéu back on the Champions League’s first matchday.
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Rafa Benitez probably never imagined that Sunday’s match at Eibar would be a critical test for his coaching credentials at Real Madrid.
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo’s trademark trick lets him down during the UCL match against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Cristiano Ronaldo sparkled as Real Madrid, who had already sealed a place in the last 16 of the Champions League, clinched top spot in Group A with a remarkable 4-3 win over Shakhtar Donetsk yesterday.
Madrid’s most disgruntled supporters waved white handkerchiefs to demand the removal of Benitez and shouted for club president Florentino Perez to step down. “We needed to recover after the game against Barcelona and this was a good game”. “I want to take away the positive aspects and we will analyze the mistakes we made”. Alex Teixeira, the Ukrainian league’s top scorer with 19 goals from just 13 games, stepped up and converted the spot-kick even though Madrid keeper Kiko Casilla dived the right way.
In just five minutes, Shakhtar shorten the lead thanks to goals from Teixeira and Dentinho. Benitez denied that something had gone wrong structurally with his team.
“Of course the Clasico bothered us”. A debatable penalty, then a goal at a corner. We must give merit to [Shakhtar].
“It hard to put your finger on it, but Rafa is all about the team and he is not a fan of individual players”.
Like Benitez, Ronaldo’s contract expires in 2018, and he too, might have to change colours next season.
It was the first time the 34-year-old Sweden star had played a competitive match in Malmo since his departure and he paid for the game to be shown on a big screen in Stortorget, the city’s main square. “Those who were on the pitch did sensationally well”.
Not only did Ronaldo look back to his best, but Gareth Bale also put in a fine performance, as he set up the Portuguese for both his goals.
“If you’re going to sack a manager at least get an upgrade, and I don’t think Benitez was”. “But we will try not to rely on the individuals”. “It all depends on how the game develops”. “But Shakhtar are a strong and aggressive team”.
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“It happened as I said it would yesterday – that we would score but need to avoid defensive errors”. “But we know they are fundamental for us”.
