Benzema nets Real Madrid's 1,000th Champions League goal in Shakhtar win - in pictures

French striker grabs a double as Real labour to unconvincing 2-1 Group D win

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a Group D Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk at the Bernabeu in Madrid on November 3, 2021. Real won the match 2-1. AP Photo

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal. AP Photo

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema celebrates with Vinicius Junior. AFP

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring his team's second goal. AFP

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid scores. Getty Images

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema vies with Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian midfielder Dodo. AFP

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Shakhtar Donetsk. It was Real Madrid's 1,000th goal in the European Cup/Champions League. AP Photo

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema shoots on goal. AP Photo

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, left, scores the opening goal. AP Photo

Real Madrid players celebrate. AFP

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.

Shakhtar are bottom of the group standings with one point.