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#3 Lucas Vazquez
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has often used Lucas Vazquez as a right-back this season. However, with Dani Carvajal back into the fold, Vazquez finally got the opportunity to take up his natural position on the right-wing.
Thanks to Shakhtar’s attacking tendencies, Vazquez enjoyed plenty of space down the right-hand side, and, for the most part, he made the most of it. He was tireless from start to finish. He combined well with Luka Modric and should have had two assists had the Croat been more clinical. He also swung in a couple of neat crosses, which deserved to meet the back of the net.
#2 Vinicius Jr.
Real Madrid’s 21-year-old left-winger, Vinicius Jr., has been in red hot form since the start of the season. The Brazilian has been influencing play even without registering goals and assists. This shows how much he has grown over the course of the season. Vinicius Jr. came into Wednesday's match on the back of a match-winning brace against Elche, and he picked up right where he left off.
Vinicius Jr. started the first half strongly, storming down the left-hand channel time and again. His pressing was on point and eventually led to Real Madrid’s first goal of the night.
Vincius Jr. sensed an overhit pass by the Shakhtar keeper and pounced on defender Marlon Santos to win the ball. He then fed the ball to Benzema, who converted from point-blank range.
Again in the second half, Vinicius Jr. kicked off a move just outside the box, which ended with him assisting Benzema for his second goal.
#1 Karim Benzema
Real Madrid’s leading goalscorer in all competitions, Karim Benzema, put on another fantastic show for the club’s supporters on Wednesday night. Benzema, who scored a goal in the reverse fixture, scored a match-winning brace on matchday four in the Champions League.
The Frenchman first found himself in the right place at the right time for Vinicius Jr.’s decisive pass in the first half. He applied the finishing touch from close range to put his side ahead.
Benzema continued to drop deep to help Real Madrid build up and eventually found himself in the thick of things. Just past the hour mark, Vinicius Jr. and Casemiro combined to open up a sliver of space inside the area. Benzema intelligently occupied the area and struck firmly to restore Real Madrid’s one-goal cushion.
Before being subbed off for Luka Jovic, Benzema attempted an outrageous volley, which was only a whisker away from the Shakhtar Donetsk goal.
