record-breaking ronaldo helps madrid end on a high
published: tuesday 10 december 2013, 23.00cet fc københavn 0-2 real madrid cf
after luka modrić's fine opener, cristiano ronaldo added his ninth goal of the group stage to set a new competition best as madrid recorded another victory.
cristiano ronaldo scored his record ninth goal in this season's uefa champions league group stage as real madrid cf finished unbeaten at the top of group b, ending fc københavn's slim hopes of prolonging their european campaign.
luka modrić's curling shot gave the visitors a 25th-minute lead before ronaldo completed madrid's fifth win in six matches in this season's competition three minutes into the second period. that set a new mark for a group stage and the portuguese had the chance to take his personal haul ten with a late penalty, but johan wiland saved a chipped effort.
needing to avoid defeat to have any hope of claiming third place, københavn had never lost a uefa champions league match at parken stadium but they were forced into an early reshuffle as nicolai jørgensen, a doubt with a thigh injury, lasted only seven minutes. the home side made light of the disruption in front of another capacity crowd but the vibrant atmosphere was punctured midway through the opening period.
having collected possession on the edge of the penalty area, modrić feinted to shoot with his left foot and then checked back on to his right to curl a sumptuous effort beyond wiland and into the top corner of the net. madrid sought to press home their dominance before the break and ronaldo tested the goalkeeper on several occasions; although he came up short then, the madrid no7 did not have long to wait.
pepe was the unlikely architect of ronaldo's record-breaking goal, heading marcelo's deep centre back across the face of goal. having escaped the attentions of the home defence, ronaldo made no mistake from close range.
københavn refused to concede defeat and went close to reducing their arrears on more than one occasion, although ronaldo regularly reminded them of his considerable threat at the other end. fifteen minutes from time, he tricked his way into the penalty area but his left-foot drive came back off the post.
the madrid forward had an even better opportunity a minute from time having been felled by thomas delaney, getting up to take the spot kick himself. wiland dived to his right, but still managed to reach up and block ronaldo's attempted chip – a rare moment of frustration in a memorable group stage for the forward and his team.
