Madrid win sees them top Group B

Goals from Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo were enough to give Real Madrid a 2-0 win over Copenhagen, and see them finish top of Group B.

Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo returned for Los Blancos after missing their Copa del Rey draw with Olimpic Xativa at the weekend. Elsewhere in the side, Xabi Alonso took his place in the XI to play his 200th Real Madrid match, whilst Iker Casillas, as usual, played in Europe.

And it was the visitors who made the brighter start, keeping the ball with ease in the opening exchanges. And it wasn’t long before Ronaldo got off his first effort of the night, but the shot went well wide.

The Danish team slowly managed to get themselves back in the game as Pierre Bengtsson fired a shot at goal – but Iker Casillas gathered the effort easily.

In truth though, neither team were risking too much in going forward, with Carlo Ancelotti’s men going closest thanks to a glancing Bale header on 20 minutes.

Just five minutes later however, the away side were a goal up thanks to Modric, The Croatia international twisted and turned, before curling an effort from the edge of the area into the top right-hand corner to give Los Blancos the lead.

Madrid were dominating the game now – both in terms of possession and chances created. Ronaldo had clearly recovered from his injury worries, and forced two great saves from John Wiland.

It could have been a lot different though right at the end of the half as Thomas Delaney headed in from a corner – however, the goal was disallowed for a foul on Casillas.

After the break, it wasn’t long before the visitors bagged their second as Ronaldo tapped in a cross-box Pepe header to score his ninth group stage goal for this season – the most by any player ever.

Stale Solbakken’s men weren’t disheartened though, and piled forward looking for a goal of their own. Igor Ventokele and Rurik Gislason were both looking dangerous on the counter-attack – their finishing however, was slightly less impressive.

It could have been worse for the Danes, as with just a minute remaining Ronaldo was fouled inside the area – but the Portugal international misses the resulting spot kick.

In the grand scheme of things, it didn’t matter though, as Madrid held out for the three points, to qualify with ease for the Last 16.

Copenhagen 0-2 Real Madrid

Scorers: Modric 25 (RM), Ronaldo 49 (RM)

Copenhagen: Wiland, Jacobsen, Mellberg,Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Gíslason, Claudemir, Delaney, Toutouh (Pourie 77), Jorgensen (Bolanos 9), Vetokele

Real Madrid: Casillas, Arbeloa, Nacho, Pepe, Marcelo; X.Alonso (Illarra 77), Isco (Di Maria 67), Modric (Casemiro 83); Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale

Misses penalty: Ronaldo 89 (RM)

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