Real Madrid`s Cristiano Ronaldo surged three goals clear of Lionel Messi as the all-time Champions League top scorer with a hat-trick in a 4-0 drubbing of 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk in their Group A opener.
Portugal captain Ronaldo scored twice from the penalty spot in the second half and added a header nine minutes from time to take his tally in Europe’s elite club competition to 80 goals, three more than Barcelona forward Messi.
A howler from Shakhtar keeper Andriy Pyatov let in Karim Benzema for the opener on the half-hour before the visitors were reduced to 10 men five minutes after the break when Taras Stepanenko hacked down Sergio Ramos and was shown a second yellow card.
Real doubled their lead after Ronaldo’s shot hit Shakhtar captain Darijo Srna on the back in the 54th and the referee inexplicably gave a penalty and the Portuguese netted another spot kick nine minutes later after Marcio Azevedo handled.
