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Record breaker Ronaldo fires Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score nine goals in the group stages of the Champions League as Real Madrid won 2-0 away at FC Copenhagen on Tuesday.

Luka Modric gave a surprisingly strong Madrid side the lead with a wonder strike on 25 minutes.

Ronaldo then doubled the advantage just after the break with a clinical finish from close range, but it wasn’t a perfect night for the Portuguese star as he had a late penalty saved by Copenhagen keeper Johan Wiland.

Real’s two goals also meant they equalled a competition record of 20 goals in the group stages as they finished with 16 points from a possible 18.

Ronaldo was making his return to the side after three games out through injury and suspension respectively, while Gareth Bale also started after missing Saturday’s 0-0 draw away to minnows Olimpic Xativa in the Copa del Rey due to flu.

Real had already secured their progress to the knockout stage, but there is still one qualifier from Group B to be decided after Galatasaray’s clash with Juventus in Turkey was called off due to snow at 0-0 on 32 minutes.

Juventus lead Galatasaray by two points, with the Turkish side needing a win to progress at the expense of Antonio Conte’s men.

The game will resume on Wednesday at midday GMT.

In Group A, Socceroo Robbie Kruse’s Bayer Leverkusen secured their place in the last 16 thanks to a 1-0 win away to Real Sociedad while Manchester United edged Shakhtar Donetsk by the same margin.

Kruse played the entire second half for Sami Hyppia’s men who went into the game knowing they needed to better the Ukrainian champions’ result and they deservedly went ahead four minutes after the break when defender Omer Toprak slammed home from close range.

Leverkusen should have added to their advantage as Stefan Kiessling hit the post and was also denied by a fine save from Enaut Zubikarai.

And the Bundesliga side were nearly made to pay for their profligacy as Antoine Griezmann forced Bernd Leno into an important save with a low header 17 minutes from time.

Manchester United’s 1-0 victory – courtesy of a Phil Jones goal – means they top the group, while Leverkusen are likely to face a tricky tie against another group winner when the draw for the last 16 is made in Nyon, Switzerland on December 16.

Group D threw up a thriller, with holders Bayern Munich stunned 3-2 at home by Manchester City.

The Premier League side staged a memorable fight back after conceding two early goals.

City were 2-0 down after 12 minutes in Munich, with Thomas Mueller and Mario Goetze scoring for the hosts, but David Silva scored nearing the half-hour mark to trim the margin at the break.

A penalty to Aleksandar Kolarov in the 59th minute was followed three minutes later by a James Milner strike to cap off a stunning comeback.

Also in Group D, CSKA Moscow went down 2-1 in the Czech Republic to Viktoria Plzen, but finished in third place on goal difference.

And Javier Saviola scored twice as Olympiakos pipped Benfica to second spot in Group C by beating visitors Anderlecht 3-1 in an extraordinary match.

Anderlecht finished with eight men and the Greek side scored one penalty having missed two.

Benfica beat group winners Paris St Germain 2-1, but drop into the Europa League.

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