Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez is relishing the attacking options at his disposal as he prepares to launch the club's latest assault on Champions League glory.

The Spaniards welcome Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk to the Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday evening in their opening Group A fixture, with Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo in particular in the mood to terrorise opponents.

Benitez told the club's official website, www.realmadrid.com: "They have freedom up front and they use their talent to put together attacks.

"We talk to them about the movements that each player makes and we stress the importance of there being a co-ordinated series of movements.

"Bale brings speed and penetration, Cristiano drifts inside, and that balance with Karim Benzema, Isco, and Marcelo joining in the attack... It creates a lot of danger for our opponents."

However, Benitez has warned his players they can take nothing for granted, with Shakhtar having lost just once in 13 outings in all competitions to date this season.

He said: "They have a coach with a lot of experience who gets the best out of his players. They have players with ability, speed and quality. If we're not focused and underestimate them, they'll be tough.

"We're Real Madrid and we're playing at the Bernabeu. The challenge is to start our Champions League campaign on a positive note."

Mircea Lucescu's men will arrive at the Bernabeu determined to enjoy the experience, but not simply to make up the numbers.

Asked if he felt under pressure at the prospect of lining up against the Spanish aristocrats, Brazilian midfielder Taison told the club's official website, www.shakhtar.com: "I'm doing the best thing in the world - I play football!

"I think anyone wants to face such teams as Real Madrid. The only thing we need is to achieve a positive result in Spain. We will fight for it.

"It will be a good game. I would say that today's football is different from what it was before. No-one can win the match in advance. Both teams have equal chances."

http://www.sport.co.uk/football/real-madrid-v-shakhtar-donetsk-champions-league-match-prev/6787061/#3PFzSld9KSHJJEbY.99

The road to la undecima starts today.Good luck to the team.

And it ends 4-0...


Ronaldo scores 2 penalty kicks while benzema & Bale scores the other 2...

#Halamadrid.........love everything about this football club.

Kkk

Madrid to win,
Thank me later

Krasid:
The road to la undecima starts today.Good luck to the team.

That's my fellow Galactico......#halamadrid

Vamos Los Blancos

...

Legoooooo

Hala madrid always visit www.romanticgist.com

Ronaldo 6 goals

Over 4.5.

Without a doubt...Madrid all the way!

ronaldo,bale,benzema,kroos,isco,marcelo. Fear those guyz. Although madrid have been facing easy teams,i want to see how good their attack is against big teams. Barca have shown theirs by beating A-madrid. Any way,i expect 5 goals upward,that is if bale is in the mood cuz he is the most efficient and creative player in madrid ryt now.

bts ...buh na madrid go win finally

Looking forward to a good win with the squad.

Brighter days ahead.

HALA MADRID

HALA MADRID......#PROUDLY MADRIDISTA

3~1

No futbol team compares with the los merengues.... Hala Madrid

hopefully Ronaldo scores 8

Guys please let us know if there's any link for live streaming any of the UEFA Champions league matches today. Thanks folks!

#Halamadrid... 5-0 score line

It's UEFA Champions League (youth edition)

Go Shaktar! break Ronaldo's leg! come on!

this is work over for Madrid

REAL MADRID 20:45 SHAKHTAR DONETSK Competition UEFA Champions League Date 15 September 2015 Game week 1 Kick-off 20:45 1 K. Navas 2 R. Varane 4 Sergio Ramos 7 Cristiano Ronaldo 8 T. Kroos 9 K. Benzema 11 G. Bale 12 Marcelo 15 Daniel Carvajal 19 L. Modrić 22 Isco 30 A. Pyatov 5 O. Kucher 6 T. Stepanenko 8 Fred 11 Marlos 21 O. Gladkiy 28 Taison 29 Alex Teixeira 33 D. Srna 44 Y. Rakitskiy 66 Márcio Azevedo G Coach: Rafael Benítez

5' Varane has his pocket picked in his own back yard, with Marlos getting a hold of possession right at the byline in the Madrid area. Teixeira is making a run to the near post, but he can't sort out his feet in time to connect with the ball. 3' Real Madrid have dominated possession to start this game. They win an early corner, which is played short to Isco, who shapes to shoot with his right, only for the ball to sail over the top of the bar. 1' Off we go!

early runs

Go boiz.

Hala madrid

Benz please stop being a cat

17' Now it's Ronaldo's turn to try to get on the scoresheet as he lashes one on goal from the left, but he never connected with it properly and it goes wide of the target. Madrid starting to ramp it up. 15' SHOULD HAVE BEEN 1-0! Ronaldo does brilliantly to mummify his marker on the turn, and slips in Benzema with the perfect ball. The Frenchman rounds the keeper and has an empty net to aim at via a slight angle, but he can't keep it down and slides it over the bar! 13' And just as I say that, Shakhtar switch off for a second, which leads to a good attack for Madrid! Isco works the ball to the back post where Bale delicately tries to convert, but Pyatov covers the space in the end and smothers! 11' Shakhtar aren't looking fazed by Madrid here in the early exchanges. They're quite happy to let them have the ball in midfield and take their chances by pouncing on mistakes and gaps left in defence. 9' Azevedo has looked lively so far, and he profits from a stumble by Carvajal to race goalside of the full-back. He fires one for the top corner on the near side but misses the target from a good position. 7' Another corner for Madrid and another header that goes off the mark. Kroos finds Varane for a looping attempt that doesn't force Pyatov into a save. Fairly quiet start to this one.