It has been a very tough few days for Real Madrid and their manager Rafael Benítez with the media recriminations in full swing after their 4-0 hammering by Barcelona in last weekend's El Clásico. The defeat has laid bare the weaknesses of a squad that won the Champions League a couple of seasons ago, but looks unlikely to repeat the feat any time soon. They seem far off the pace of rivals Barcelona and Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich, and the pressure is already mounting on their coach.
Real Madrid vs. Shakhtar Donetsk 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch Champions League online
Real Madrid can cement top spot in their Champions League group with a win away at Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.
They should certainly be fired up for their next Champions League fixture away at Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, despite the fact that they’ve already ensured their passage into the knockout stages. Their win over Paris Saint-Germain in their last outing moved them three points clear at the top of the group and a victory over Shakhtar would guarantee them the top spot. Their Ukrainian hosts need a miracle if they’re to make it into the next round, but they’ll still be battling for the third-place finish that would see them fall into the Europa League rather than out of continental competition altogether.
Key player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo apparently likes Benítez even less than most and it’s perhaps telling that the Portuguese winger been a little quieter than usual so far this season. He’s scored only three times in his last seven matches and has failed to find the net at all since a win over La Liga minnows Las Palmas almost a month ago. By most players’ standards, that’d be nothing to worry about; by Ronaldo’s, it suggests there’s something wrong.
When they last met: Real Madrid 4-0 Shakhtar Donetsk, 15 Sept. 2015
Madrid will be taking confidence from the comfortable win they recorded in the reverse fixture at the Bernabéu back on the Champions League’s first matchday. It came in much happier times for Ronaldo, who scored a second half hat-trick (albeit with two of his goals coming from the penalty spot) after an early opener from Karim Benzema. With his trio of goals, Ronaldo moved onto a career total of 80 in this tournament -- that’s more than anyone else in history.
Shakhtar Donetsk injuries and suspensions
Out: Olexandr Kucher, Darijo Srna (suspended). In doubt: Maksym Malyshev (knee).
Real Madrid injuries and suspensions
Out: Sergio Ramos (shoulder); Marcelo (thigh). In doubt: None.
Shakhtar will be without the suspended Kucher and Srna, while young defender Malyshev could also be missing from the back line with a knee injury.
Madrid will certainly be without injured captain Ramos, while full-back Marcelo is also sidelined after suffering a thigh injury in El Clásico.
Match date/time: Wed., Nov. 25, 2:45 p.m. ET, 9:45 p.m. local
Venue: Arena Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine
TV: FOX Sports regional networks (US - English); FOX Deportes (US - Spanish); beIN Sport (Canada); BT Sport Extra (UK)
Online: FOX Soccer 2Go, Watch ESPN (US); beIN Sports Connect (Canada); BT Sport Live Streaming (UK)
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