Benitez regained some credibility in the wake of Real Madrid‘s 0-4 home thrashing to FC Barcelona as his side took a 4-0 lead away to Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday night and then proceeded to lose much of it as Shakhtar scored three late goals to leave Madrid fans with their hearts in their mouths.
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Real qualify for the knockout phase as Group A winners with PSG’s 5-0 victory over Malmo confirming them as runners-up.
I am ambitious, I try to play as often as possible and I am very happy at Real Madrid.
Already missing injured defenders Sergio Ramos and Marcelo, Benitez also saw centre-back Varane limp off in the first half with a hamstring problem but again denied there was anything unusual in so many fitness problems.
Barcelona’s Gerard Pique, right, celebrates with Lionel Messi, left and Luis Suarez after he scored his team’s 4th goal during the Group E Champions League soccer match between Barcelona and Roma at the Camp Nou stadium in…
That second breakthrough would come not long after the second period kicked off however, with Luka Modric reminding the Madrid fans what he can do by powering his team two to the good.
Pyatov reacted well to spurn Ronaldo before the break but Benitez’s side looked comfortable with their one-goal lead. Given Ronaldo’s incredible run of scoring since arriving in Madrid in 2009, his sudden drop-off is alarming to say the least, and the revelation this week that he reportedly told his team-mates in the changing room that “either he [Benitez] goes or I go” has been cause for concern among Real supporters. Rafa Benítez’s men, who clearly were still shaken from the trauma they suffered in the last weekend’s Clasico against Barcelona, have now conceded 7 goals in only 2 games.
However, he said there had been no discussion about holding new elections at a board meeting on Monday, at which it was decided that Benitez, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the end of last term, retained the club’s “full support and confidence”.
Other scores: CSKA 0, Wolfsburg 2; Astana 2, Benfica 2; Atletico Madrid 2, Galatasaray 0; Borussia mönchengladbach 4, Sevilla 2. “We showed lots of commitment, it was great work from the players”.
I know the qualities that they have and the type of team that we are.
Cristiano Ronaldo hit a brace, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was also on target, while Juventus edged Manchester City in UEFA Champions League action on Wednesday night.
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In 35 games for his club during 2015, he has scored just eight goals, with none of those efforts coming against any side playing in either European competition.
