Real Madrid hung on for a nervy 2-1 Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
The hosts took a deserved lead before 15 minutes when the ball fell kindly to Rodrygo just outside the penalty area and he shot past Shakhtar keeper Anatolii Trubin to stake Madrid to a 1-0 advantage.
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The LaLiga holders looked to be well on their way to a straightforward win when Vincius Junior doubled their lead from a Rodrygo assist in the 28th minute, but Shakhtar hit back before the half through Oleksandr Zubkov to make it 2-1 at the break.
Madrid controlled possession for much of the second half, but the visiting Ukrainian side were dangerous situationally through set pieces and on the counter-attack forcing Carlo Ancelotti’s side to battle to the end for their three points.
The result keeps Madrid atop Group F on nine points with three wins from three matches, while Shakhtar are in second well off the leaders’ pace at four points.
