Ronaldo record in Madrid romp

Cristiano Ronaldo set a new record for Champions League group stage goals as Rafa Benitez’s side routed Malmo, winning 8-0.

Ronaldo needed three to reach 10 goals in Group A, already holding the record of nine with Luis Adriano, and went one better by scoring four of his team’s haul.

Karim Benzema also claimed a hat-trick and Mateo Kovacic got on the score sheet too as Madrid ended the group stage with an emphatic victory.

Madrid were already guaranteed of top spot no matter what happened in this game or in Paris Saint-Germain-Shakhtar Donetsk, where the French side ran out 2-0 winners.

Malmo could have taken third place from Shakhtar if they’d have bettered the Ukrainians’ result but as it transpired, were thoroughly outclassed at Santiago Bernabeu.

Benitez rotated his squad for the dead rubber but crucially kept Ronaldo and Benzema in the starting XI, the forwards doing the lion’s share of the damage. Madrid ended the game with 31 shots on goal to Malmo’s four.

It’s the second time Benitez has been in charge of a team who have dished out such a Champions League thumping, having overseen a Liverpool win against Besiktas by the same score line – Alvaro Arbeloa was also in the Reds team that night.

Madrid now await the draw for the knockout stage having sent a warning to the rest of the teams in the competition.

Real Madrid 8-0 Malmo

Benzema 12, 24, 74, Ronaldo 39, 47, 50, 59, Kovacic 70

Real Madrid: Casilla; Danilo, Pepe (Marcelo 53), Nacho, Arbeloa; Casemiro, Kovacic (Cheryshev 76), James (Jese 65); Isco, Benzema, Ronaldo

Malmo: Wiland, Tinnerholm, Yotun, Carvalho, Rakip (Kroon 76); Lewicki, Adu, Arnason, Sana (Mehmeti 64), Berget; Djurdic (Rodic 46)

Referee: Orsato [ITA]

Tags Cristiano Ronaldo Malmo
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