The Blancos maintained their proud record of never having failed to make it out of their Champions League group thanks to two goals from their Karim Benzema.
Benzema was at his lethal best, Sergio Ramos returned to galvanise the defence and the record 13-time European champions flexed their muscles to blow away Borussia Monchengladbach proceed to the knock outs.
Real Madrid have never failed to make it out of their Champions League group and despite fears among their fans and media in the Spanish capital, that proud record never looked in doubt at the Alfredo di Stefano on Wednesday.
Karim Benzema was at his lethal best, Sergio Ramos returned to galvanise the defence and the record 13-time European champions flexed their muscles to blow away Borussia Monchengladbach and quieten the Europa League jibes being thrown their way.
Real Madrid have never failed to make it out of their Champions League group and despite fears among their fans and media in the Spanish capital, that proud record never looked in doubt at the Alfredo di Stefano on Wednesday.
Zidane’s side won 2-0 thanks to Benzema’s headed brace, but it might have been five, six or seven, such was their dominance.
It had been a dismal group phase for Madrid until this point, with six of their seven points coming against a weak Inter, and the other in a snatched 2-2 draw at Gladbach.
The good news was their captain’s return from injury, with Madrid suffering eight defeats in their last 10 Champions League games without Ramos.
Among the worst of those were the two recent early exits against Man City and Ajax, both in the last 16.
The 35-year-old’s leadership was keenly felt, and heard, as he marshalled and instructed the defence throughout, as Madrid kept only their second clean sheet of the group phase.
The Frenchman celebrated equalling Roberto Carlos’ record of 527 games for a non-Spanish player at Madrid by sending his side ahead with a brilliant header from Lucas Vazquez’s cross in the ninth minute.
Luka Modric hit the post and had a goal disallowed for offside, while Benzema headed in his second goal in much the same way he managed his first, this time connecting with a ball that Brazilian forward Rodrygo.
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