Karim Benzema fires Real Madrid into last 16 of Champions League

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.

But just like the last match at the Bernabéu, Madrid left it late and Sporting’s dreams were eventually crushed as a late match victor sent the Portugese team out of the tournament.

Karim Benzema took part from the bench against Atletico Madrid, but should be fit to start against Sporting CP and complete the BBC front-line with Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo on either side of the French striker. After Real Madrid‘s performance at the weekend though, Sporting could find it hard to get any kind of result.

Sporting tried to amplify the pressure after halftime, knowing they needed all three points to keep their hopes of advancing alive.

“Barcelona is aware of what’s going on in Portuguese football and I can’t hide that Gelson Martins is one of the players we’re looking at”.

Kick-off time 19:45. The game will be screened live on TV and online (BT Sport ESPN, BT Sport Live Streaming).

The victory extended Madrid’s unbeaten streak to 30 matches in all competitions. However, Madrid hasn’t won in their previous two away games against Sporting, they lost 1 and drew 1.

Ronaldo – Ballon d’Or victor in 2008, 2013 and 2014 – is overwhelming favorite to reclaim the award in January after finishing top scorer in the Champions League with 16 goals, as well as his Euro 2016 title. Zinedine’s Zidane’s side, understandably, lacked the energy of their impressive derby display and with 10 of the 11 players kept in the team (Sergio Ramos replaced Nacho in the sole change), the tiredness was evident just three nights on from that triumph.

However, Real Madrid and Barcelona contribute more players than the entire Premier League, with eight from Real and five from Barca.

Substitute Karim Benzema’s glancing header in the 87th made it 2-1 to Madrid and eliminated Sporting, which had to win.

Real Madrid only need to avoid defeat against Sporting Lisbon at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on 22 November to seal progress to the Champions League knockout stages.

And yielded results too. Sporting Portugal could be out of the competition today if they fail to beat Los Blancos. “When they don’t have the ball, they have weaknesses, like all teams, and we will try to capitalise”, Jesus said.

A total of 8 matches involving 16 teams were played across Europe with Real Madrid featuring in the headlining match of Day 1.

An overabundance of caution from both sides led to a sloppy opening 20 minutes.

Zidane was naturally happy with his side’s efforts in Portugal.

Cristiano Ronaldo failed to have a shot on target in a UCL group game for the first time for Real Madrid.

The highly-rated Gelson Martins should start on the right with Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell featuring on the opposite flank, after his heroics against Arouca just before the worldwide break.