TIRASPOL (REUTERS) – Actual Madrid booked a berth within the Champions League knockout levels with a match to spare after strolling to a 3-0 win at Moldovan rivals Sheriff Tiraspol of their lop-sided Group D conflict on Wednesday (Nov 24).
Actual high the group on 12 factors from 5 video games, two greater than second-placed Inter Milan with the outcome additionally sending the Italian champions by means of after they beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0.
Third-placed Sheriff, who shocked Actual 2-1 within the reverse fixture in September, are third on six factors and warranted of carrying on within the Europa League after the winter break.
Fourth-placed Shakhtar have one level.
France striker Karim Benzema, who was handed a suspended one-year jail sentence earlier on Thursday, had a purpose chalked off within the tenth minute for offside as Actual laid siege to the house facet.
David Alaba fired the guests forward with a deflected free kick within the thirtieth minute, with a shot from 22 metres leaving Sheriff goalkeeper Georgios Athanasiadis stranded after it clipped Cristiano’s outstretched foot.
Midfielder Toni Kroos doubled Actual’s lead on the stroke of halftime with a positive shot which cannoned in off the underside of the crossbar after a flowing transfer left the German midfielder with time and area to choose his spot.
Benzema made it 3-0 with a chic effort from the sting of the penalty space into the underside nook after he was teed up by left again Ferland Mendy within the fifty fifth minute, as Actual stored their foot on the pedal.
The house facet got here near pulling one again shortly after the hour as Actual goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois parried Adama Traore’s low drive and Sebastien Thill hit the publish with a glancing header within the follow-up.
Athanasiadis twice thwarted substitute Marco Asensio within the dying minutes with a pair of good saves as Actual breezed comfortably into the enterprise finish of Europe’s premier membership competitors for the twenty fifth successive 12 months.
Actual are at house to Inter of their last group match whereas Sheriff go to Shakhtar on Dec 7.
