Karim Benzema winner seals Madrid spot in last 16 against 10-man Sporting
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Updated 22/11/2016 at 22:49 GMT
Champions League, Estádio José Alvalade – Sporting Lisbon 1 (Silva 80 pen) Real Madrid 2 (Varane 29, Benzema 89)
Real Madrid's players celebrate after Real Madrid's French defender Raphael Varane scored during the UEFA Champions League football match Sporting CP vs Real Madrid CF at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on November 22, 2016.
Image credit: AFP
Substitute Karim Benzema headed Real Madrid’s winner with three minutes remaining as the holders kept alive their hopes of topping Group F with a 2-1 victory.at Estádio José Alvalade.
Needing only a draw to progress, a Raphael Varane goal gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at the break after Cristiano Ronaldo, seeking a 100th goal in Europe, miskicked into his path.
Things unravelled for Sporting during a hectic second half when Joao Pereira was sent off for an apparent punch on Mateo Kovacic, although replays were not overly damning.
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Karim Benzema, Sporting 1-2 Real Madrid
Image credit: AFP
But it was the hosts who drew level against the run of play when former Benfica player Fabio Coentrao bizarrely handled the ball in the box when appealing for a handball the other way.
Adrien Silva converted the penalty to set up a grandstand finish, but substitute Benzema settled the match with a thumping header from Sergio Ramos’ cross.
With Borussia Dortmund beating Legia Warsaw 8-4 to remain two points ahead of Madrid, Los Blancos must beat Dortmund at home on December 7 to top the section and secure a favourtable match in the knock-out stage.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Sebastian Coates (Sporting Lisbon) A marvellous game in the centre of defence, keeping the Galacticos stars quiet for the majority of the game. The sending off proved decisive, but he was unlucky to be on the losing side.
PLAYER RATINGS
Sporting Lisbon: Patricio 6, Pereira 4, Coates 8, Semedo 7, Zeegelaar 6, Gelson Martins 7, Carvalho 6, Adrien Silva 7, Cesar 6, Bas Dost 6, Bryan Ruiz 6. SUBS: Schelotto 6, Campbell 7, Andre 6.
Real Madrid: Navas 6, Carvajal 6, Ramos 7, Varane 7, Ronaldo 7, Bale 6, Marcelo 7, Kovacic 6, Lucas 6, Modric 6, Isco 6. SUBS: Benzema 7, Coentrao 6, Asensio 6.
KEY MOMENTS
29’ - GOAL! SPORTING LISBON 0-1 REAL MADRID: Ronaldo draws Semedo into a foul and wins a dangerous free kick. Modric delivers and Varane smashes it home! Sporting players look for offside but nothing is given. Great call from the linesman as Dost plays him on.
32’ - GREAT CLEARANCE! What a header from Ramos to deflect Cesar’s goalbound shot behind. Sensational reaction!
41’ - CLOSE! Cesar Zanaki’s free kick flashes just wide of the top corner with Navas in full flight!
64’ – RED CARD! What’s happened here? Looks like Pereira has reacted to provocation from Kovacic, although punched in the stomach…
80’ - GOAL! SPORTING LISBON 1-1 REAL MADRID: It’s game on again as Silva slams the ball home, sending Navas the wrong way after Coentrao handles the ball in the box.
87’ - GOAL! SPORTING LISBON 1-2 REAL MADRID: A beauty of a ball in from Ramos and a thumping header from Benzema and that should seal it.
KEY STATS
Real Madrid are now 30 games unbeaten across all competitions.
Sporting Lisbon have now scored in their last 14 home games in a row across all competitions.
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Gareth Bale (Sporting vs. Real Madrid)
Image credit: Eurosport
Cristiano Ronaldo failed to have a shot on target in a UCL group game for the first time for Real Madrid.
Fábio Coentrão conceded his first penalty for Real Madrid in all competitions.
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