Benzema saves Real as Liverpool, City cruise to victories

Karim Benzema struck twice to lead Real Madrid to an unconvincing 2-1 home win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday and move the Spanish side clear at the top of Champions League Group D.

Real, who beat Shakhtar 5-0 in Ukraine last month, lead the standings with nine points, two more than Inter Milan who beat Moldova's Sheriff Tiraspol 3-1.

Real went ahead in the 15th minute when Vinicius Jr. stole the ball from a Shakhtar defender and set up Benzema to score with a powerful shot from inside the box.

Shakhtar equalised five minutes before halftime with a stunning counter-attack finished off by Fernando.

Benzema and Vinicius Jr. combined again for the Real winner just after the hour mark, the latter linking up well with Casemiro before teeing up the France striker to find the net again.

"It's hard when you play a game every three or four days, the team felt a little bit of fatigue. But sometimes you just have to win, even if you win ugly," Benzema told reporters.

Liverpool are through to the Champions League round of 16 after a convincing 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid at Anfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold was the star of a convincing victory for the Reds, who are guaranteed top spot in Group B, providing assists for Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane early on in a game that was effectively over when Felipe was sent off for the visitors before the interval.

"The first target was to get through this group. I didn't expect we would be through after four games but the boys did it and it's really well deserved," said Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp.

The only negative for Klopp's side was a hamstring injury to Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino in the second half. They will be joined by Ajax, who came from a goal down to beat 10-man Borussia Dortmund for their fourth win from four. Dortmund now have Sporting breathing down their necks after they beat Besiktas 4-0 in Lisbon.

Manchester City are close to joining Liverpool and Ajax in the knockout stages after a hard fought but ultimately impressive win over Club Brugge. Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus netted in the second half to move Pep Guardiola's side five points clear of their opponents in third in Group A after an own goal had given the visitors hope in the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola lauded the special ability of right back Joao Cancelo after his three assists in the 4-1 defeat of Club Brugge.

"He has been playing incredibly well all season," Guardiola said. "Of course, he sometimes has to improve his quality. He has highs and lows, but he has a special ability to do something good."

Meanwhile, Georginio Wijnaldum scored his first two goals for his new club Paris St Germain on Wednesday but a stoppage-time penalty for RB Leipzig rescued a 2-2 draw in their Group A game.

Leipzig were eliminated from competition with just one point from four matches.

The French side, without the injured Lionel Messi, are in second place on eight points, one behind Manchester City. Club Brugge are on four with Leipzig bottom on one.

Inter Milan picked up a 3-1 win over Sheriff that allowed them to leapfrog the Moldovan champions, whose hopes of a shock run to the knockout stages appear to be receding. AC Milan, meanwhile, are hanging on in the race to escape Group B after they could only draw 1-1 with Porto, their first point of the group stages unlikely to be enough for them to qualify with two games left to play.