Cristiano Ronaldo just keeps scoring and scoring. After becoming Real Madrid's all-time top goalscorer in the La Liga with a ridiculous five-goal effort at the weekend, the prolific forward bagged a hat-trick to kickoff Real's Champions League campaign in style.
Karim Benzema opened the scoring for Real Madrid, after a gift from Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov, before Ronaldo added three more, two from the penalty spot, to give Real Madrid a 4-0 victory.
As good a team as Shakhtar is, you always knew Real Madrid were going to win this match, with the question being by how much.
After Benzema scored, the match became a lot easier for the home side, with Taras Stepnanenko seeing red for a second bookable offence.
Real Madrid were handed two soft penalties in the second half, both of which Ronaldo put away without too much fuss, and the former Manchester United man then completed his hat-trick, heading home a rebound after a Marcelo shot was parried by the goalkeeper.
"It was a difficult match because Shakhtar know how to control the ball," Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez told UEFA's official website. "They didn't have many opportunities but they are dangerous on the counterattack. It was not a brilliant game but we had lots of chances to score.
"I'm satisfied with not having conceded a goal and scored four. I know Cristiano's level and value. He is the best player in the world and I will repeat this every time you ask me.
The Real Madrid victory, though, was soured a little as Bale left early in the game with a seemingly problematic injury.
"Injuries are bad news," Benitez added. "The team is quite well physically, but we will have to wait one or two days to see the evolution of Bale's injury. Sergio [Ramos] and [Raphael] Varane also have problems but I'm more optimistic about them."
