Real Madrid put the classification and first place in the group back on track with a victory over Shakhtar that should have been much larger on the scoreboard. Shakhtar escaped much greater punishment for the good saves of their goalkeeper, who prevented at least four goals scored in the first half.
For Ancelotti the night was the confirmation that he has already made his gala team with the only problem of who he removes when Modric is available. It was not something that he had to solve tonight, given that the Croatian was returning from his injury and Valverde was taking his place.
The first half hour of Madrid was the best he has played this season. It was unstoppable for a Ukrainian Shakhtar, downgraded from his Brazilians and who came out totally intimidated by the Bernabeu, nothing to do with Osasuna's tactical discipline on Sunday.
By the time Shakhtar wanted to find out what the game was about, they found themselves stuck in their area, unable to contain the incursions of the Whites, who entered them from all sides, either through Valverde's flank or Vinícius's snails.
Madrid insisted and insisted and found the first goal before the quarter hour mark in a shot by Rodrygo at the edge of the area after a rebound, a shot in which Trubin could have done more, possibly his only mistake all night.
The goal highlights Rodrygo's good relationship with the Champions League, a competition in which he usually scores almost all his goals. The young Brazilian rarely gets into the game much, but he always manages to show up when least expected and his ability as a striker is beyond question.
The 1-0 left Shakhtar very touched. The Ukrainians could hardly make two passes and did not leave their field. Madrid played and liked it. Perhaps an excess of preciousness lost him: looking for the heel and the showy play rather than the effective one, a sin for what Madrid has always been.
The avalanche of play produced a rosary of chances that were chained in the Shakhtar area and that only obtained performance in the 28th minute, when a collective play with several walls ended in an unappealable shot by Vinícius, the goal man this season for the by Ancelotti.
The 2-0 did not lead Madrid to lower their arms. Quite the contrary. The team continued chaining occasion after occasion. Vinícius missed two heads-ups with Trubin and Benzema was also unsuccessful in a couple of clear shots, proof that for now his nose for goal is not the same as it was last season, exceptional for a nine that has never been a true killer of area.
As the Champions League sometimes surprises you with unexpected winks, Shakhtar scored in his only approach with real danger to the goal defended by Lunin in an acrobatic shot by Zubkov that beat his compatriot Lunin. A few minutes before the break, Shakhtar got into a game that could easily be losing 5-0.
For the second half, Ancelotti trusted them, but Madrid no longer played with the same intensity. Shakhtar also defended better, they didn't seem too worried about going for a draw and the game's heart rate dropped.
As is logical, having so much possession ended up creating chances for Madrid, but much more widely spaced and less the product of good play.
Until well into the second half, another very clear opportunity did not come for Rodrygo Goes, who once again missed another easy shot against Trubin; Almost immediately after, it was Vinícius who sent a shot high in an unbeatable position.
Camavinga came on for Tchouaméni and Asensio for Rodrygo but nothing changed in the game. Madrid was still imprecise at the top and Shakhtar looked timidly at the rival area. Benzema forgave another two goals and very late Asensio sent a ball to the post. The victory ended for the whites, but the win disappeared. Shakhtar left with a standing ovation from the Bernabeu crowd.
