Shaktar Donetsk vs Real Madrid, Champions League Group A, Match Day 5, Donbass Arena, November 25th 2015
SHAKTAR DONETSK: Pyatov, Ordets, Rakitskiy, Azevedo, Stepanenko, Fred, Bernard, Marlos, Kobin, Alex Teixeira, Gladkiy.
REAL MADRID: Casilla, Varane, Pepe, Nacho, Carvajal, Bale, Casemiro, Kovačić, Modrić, Isco, Ronaldo.
Real Madrid have already qualified from Champions League Group A but their shocker at the weekend, twinned with the desire to finish top of the group ahead of a very strong PSG side, should see them push the boat out for victory in this tough away trip.
Real Madrid were second best in every department against Barcelona but the most worrying aspect, from our point of view, was the fact that the heads seemed to go down way too early in El Clasico.
For a team of Real Madrid’s quality not to be fighting right to the end on their own patch against arch-rivals was inexcusable.
There is a sense already this season that the manager will be replaced and the squad revamped.
But a few big wins for Real Madrid and Rafa Benitez could yet save his job.
