Ronaldo scores 71st Champions League goal as Madrid beat Basel

Cristiano Ronaldo kept Lionel Messi’s Champions League goalscoring record in his sights, scoring as Real Madrid beat Basel 1-0 to qualify for the knockout phase as winners of Group B.

Messi scored a hat-trick last night to move to 74 goals and Ronaldo’s goal tonight takes him to 71, level in second place with fellow Madrid legend Raul.

With Liverpool drawing against Ludogorets, the Reds and Basel will now go head to head for the second qualification spot, and it’s a match the Reds must win as they trail the Swiss champions by two points.

It was Ronaldo's tap-in, set up by the wonderful work of Karim Benzema, that lit up an uneventful first half in Basel with the reigning champions cruising in third gear safe in the knowledge they were already through.

Basel came back into the game in the second half but lacked any cutting edge, despite the lively Breel Embolo drawing a fine save from Keylor Navas.

Madrid had chances to finish off their opponents, Gareth Bale hitting the bar and Ronaldo coming inches from finishing off a fine team move, but in the end the one goal was enough to secure their 15th straight win in all competitions.

35’ - GOAL! Basel 0-1 Real Madrid. Ronaldo opens the scoring with a simple tap in after wonderful work from Benzema who skipped away from defenders and pulled the ball back for the Portuguese.

42’ - What a miss! Gonzalez arrives at the back post for a tap-in, but somehow lifts it over the bar - from inside the six-yard-box. The flag goes up to save his blushes but that was some miss.

51’ - Ronaldo goes close with a free-kick. It’ an audacious effort from range as he gets that trademark devilish swerve on the ball and Vaclik is relieved just to get down to his right post and paw it away.

68’ - Great save! Embolo skips past Keylor Navas in the box. He shapes to shoot from the tight angle but before he knows it Navas is back up to dive and get a hand to it.

75’ - Bale hits the bar! The Welshman bursts into the box and lashes the ball with his left foot. It arrows on to the bar and bounces down without crossing the line.

78’ - So close to a wonderful team goal! It's a sweeping Madrid move starting with Coentrao, who bursts down the left before sliding it through to Bale, who in turn slides it through to Ronaldo. The striker runs on to it and tries to guide it into the net but it rolls just wide.

Real Madrid have won 15 successive games in all competitions, netting 57 goals along the way.

Real Madrid have won all of their six matches against Swiss sides in the Champions League.

FC Basel have won just two of their 16 games against Spanish sides in European competitions.

Real Madrid have failed to score only once in their last 43 games in the Champions League.

Will there ever be a definitive answer to the Ronaldo-Messi debate? Last night Messi made the headlines as he became the all-time Champions League record goalscorer on 74. Ronaldo, behind on 70, wasn’t going to let him get away that easily, and tonight reduced the gap. Whether it’s the Balon d’Or, Liga goals, Clasicos, internationals, or Champions League goals, it seems there’s never an occasion when the old ‘who is best’ debate can’t be rolled out.

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid). The Frenchman was lively and creative throughout. He looked a class above the Basel defenders and, although Madrid cruised for large parts of the game, he was a threat whenever he picked up the ball and did brilliantly in setting up Ronaldo's goal.

FC Basel: Vaclik 6, Degen 6, Schär 6, Suchy 6, Safari 6, Elneny, Frei 6, Zuffi 6, González 7, Embolo 7, Gashi 7… Subs: Marcelo Diaz 6, Kakitani 6, Hamoudi 7.

Real Madrid: Keylor Navas 7, Arbeloa 6, Varane 7, Ramos 5, Coentrao 6, Bale 7, Kroos 7, Isco 6, James 7, Ronaldo 8, Benzema 8…Subs: Marcelo 7 Nacho 6 Illaramendi 8.