Cristiano Ronaldo has fired Real Madrid into a 1-0 half-time lead in their Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Ronaldo should have put Real ahead in the third minute of the match when he collected a through-ball from Luka Modric on the edge of the box, but he could only blast his effort over the crossbar.

However, the Portuguese did fire Rafael Benitez's men in front in the 18th minute after good work from Modric and Gareth Bale.

The midfielder lifted a ball over the top of the Shakhtar defence and Bale then beat Andriy Pyatov to the ball to loft a cross to Ronaldo at the back post to head into an empty net.

Ronaldo threatened once again for the visitors when Bale raided down the left and lifted the ball to the back post for the forward, but he could only guide his header into the arms of Pyatov.

Shakhtar pushed back before the break to put pressure on Kiko Casilla's goal, but Oleksandr Gladkiy put his close-range header wide from Bernard's cross into the box.