APOEL 0-6 Real Madrid: Los Blancos run riot to enter the knockout stages

Real Madrid booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League for the 15th season in a row as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema both scored twice in a comfortable 6-0 thrashing of APOEL Nicosia.

Luka Modric gave Zinedine Zidane's side the lead in Cyprus with a controlled volley (23) before Toni Kroos released Benzema to double the visitors' lead (39).

Nacho (41) and Benzema (45) both tapped in from close range before the interval as Real continued to dominate at the GSP Stadium.

The only surprise in the opening 45 minutes was that Ronaldo hadn't scored any of the four goals, but he soon rectified that with two quick strikes at the start of the second half (49 and 54) to seal a resounding win.

Match reports:

2: SAVE! Huge early warning for APOEL as Karim Benzema bursts down the right and chips the ball to the far post. There is Cristiano Ronaldo who chests it down and fires a shot on goal but Nauzet Perez gets down to make the save.

18: WIDE! So far, it has been a continuation from the sloppiness seen in Madrid in the derby against Atletico. Their passing has been far from crisp, but Ronaldo looks to change that as he is laid the ball by Benzema fully 35 yards out and slams a fierce left-footed shot which bounces a yard or so wide of Perez's left post.

23: GOAL! APOEL 0-1 Real Madrid (Modric)

Luka Modric has decided to take matters into his own hands. Carvajal's ball into the box is lazily cleared with a back-heel by Vinicius and it lands right onto the left boot of the Croatian, who fires a shot low to Perez's left. The 'keeper should perhaps do better in palming it around the post, but all he can do is direct the ball into the net. Real have the breakthrough!

39: GOAL! APOEL 0-2 Real Madrid (Benzema)

The APOEL defence go missing as Ronaldo goes down but not after Karim Benzema is released through the middle and the Frenchman makes no mistake to slot home a second for Madrid. That should do nicely for Zidane's men.

41: GOAL! APOEL 0-3 Real Madrid (Nacho)

Madrid are running away with this game and it's all over for the hosts. Kroos swings in a corner from the left which Varane wins in the air, and Nacho is there on the line to flick the ball under pressure from Perez into the net. The APOEL defence needed to be braver, they're falling aprt! How many goals do Real want to score this evening?

45: GOAL! APOEL 0-4 Real Madrid (Benzema)

APOEL pay the ultimate price for looking to grab a goal on the stroke of half-time as Real break at pace with Benzema releasing Ronaldo through the middle. He cuts backs as if to shoot on his right foot, but he deceives Perez and passes it unselfishly to his team-mate Benzema who has the simple task of tapping in his second of the night!

49: GOAL! APOEL 0-5 Real Madrid (Ronaldo)

Ronaldo has his goal, and it's a trademark header from the competition's top goalscorer. Marcelo picks up the ball on the left and he swings it in towards the talisman for his seventh goal in five appearances in the Champions League this season. Exceptional.

54: GOAL! APOEL 0-6 Real Madrid (Ronaldo)

This APOEL defence is all at sea as a weak back pass to Perez is nearly pounced on by Benzema but the ball deflects off his shins into the path of Ronaldo, and he only has one thought in his mind as he hooks the ball back into the empty net. APOEL could get utterly embarrassed here.

71: SAVE! Asensio's shot saved

SAVE! Varane this time carries the ball forward and finds Asensio on the inside left channel, and his shot is saved by the legs of Perez as the ball goes out for a corner.From the ensuing delivery, it's a clever move as Mayoral threads a pass through to Vazquez but he's fractionally offside before his shot is palmed away again by Perez.