In what can be clearly described as the upset of the competition so far, UEFA Champions League debutantes Sheriff Tiraspol beat 13-time winners Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabeu.
Despite landing 31 shots – 11 of which were on target – and dominating the possession for large parts of the match, 13-time European Champions Real were beaten 2-1 by competition debutantes Sheriff Tiraspol at the Bernabeu. Strikes either side of a Karim Benzema goal helped the Moldovan minnows stun the Spanish giants and climb to the top of the group standings.
Carlo Ancelotti started the match with a frontline of Vinicius Jr, Benzema, and Eden Hazard, and it was the latter who looked liveliest in the opening stages of the game. The Belgian won a freekick on the edge of the box in the 17th minute that was taken by Benzema and parried by Giorgos Athanasiadis. Minutes later, the Belgian set Federico Valverde up for a shot, but the Uruguayan’s strike was high and wide.
A minute after Valverde missed the chance to give Los Blancos the lead, Sheriff counter-attacked and scored the opening goal. Left-back Cristiano surged forward and hung the ball into the air for striker Jasurbek Yakhshiboev, who headed it across from Thibaut Courtois and into the net.
Benzema equalized from the spot in the 65th minute; the Frenchman hit his penalty with a power which goalkeeper Athanasiadis could not get a hand to despite guessing the right way. Moldovan side had the ball back in the net ten minutes later through Beuno Silva, but the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside.
The minnows survived an onslaught by Madrid in the latter stages of the match. Athanasiadis first saved a goal-bound shot from Eder Militao before Luka Jovic missed a glaring chance from three yards. Consequently, Sheriff went to the other end and scored the winner through Sebastien Thill, whose sensational volley from outside the box beat Courtois in goal.
Two wins from two meant Sheriff climbed to the top of Group D, ahead of heavyweights Real Madrid in second and Inter Milan in third.
