Real Madrid 4-0 Shakhtar

Real Madrid 4-0 Shakhtar: Cristiano Ronaldo scores a hat-trick... but Gareth Bale is forced off through injury in comprehensive win

Cristiano Ronaldo made it eight goals in four days as Real Madrid won their opening Champions League game 4-0 against Shakhtar Donetsk, but lost Gareth Bale in the process.

The Welshman pulled up with a calf strain on 29 minutes, just as Real took the lead following a gaffe from keeper Andriy Pyatov, gratefully accepted by Karim Benzema.

After the Frenchman's opener Ronaldo took over, scoring two penalties and heading in a rebound to make it 78 Champions League goals and 321 in total, leaving him just two from breaking Real Madrid' all-time scoring record in all competitions held by Raul.

   Attacker Cristiano Ronaldo bags a penalty as Real Madrid cruise to victory in Spain on Tuesday night against 10-man Shakhtar

   Real Madrid attacker Ronaldo celebrates his goal as his fellow Madrid team-mates make their way over to join him in celebration

   Ronaldo takes flight in celebration as he nets against the Ukrainian side in Madrid on Tuesday night in the Champions League

  

Bale will have tests on his calf on Wednesday and Madrid also had to take off Raphael Varane at half time with a knock on the ankle and Sergio Ramos in the second half with a shoulder problem. They join full-back Danilo and James Rodriguez on a lengthening injury list.

But injuries aside it was satisfying night for Rafa Benitez on his Champions League debut as Real Madrid coach.

His team had to scrap for first-half supremacy against the impressive Ukrainian champions but things were made easier for them in the second half when midfielder Taras Stepanenko was sent off for a second yellow card and when Real Madrid were gifted a scandalous penalty after Darijo Srna had blocked Ronaldo's shot with his back but was adjudged to have handled.