Shakhtar Donetsk 3-4 Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice as Rafa Benitez's men survive scare

Real Madrid survived a late comeback from Shakhtar Donetsk to clinch top spot in Champions League Group A with a 4-3 win at the Arena Lviv on Wednesday night.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored two and made two, heading home a Gareth Bale cross on 18 minutes, before goals from Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal shortly after half-time seemingly made the game safe.

Ronaldo scored a fourth with a tap-in but Real then conceded three goals in 11 minutes to set up a nervy finish.

Alex Teixeira became the first player to score against Real Madrid in the Champions League this season when he dispatched a penalty 13 minutes from time and struck again in the 88th minute after Dentinho had pulled another back (83).

But Real Madrid held on to take the three points necessary to ensure they progress to the knockout round as group winners, PSG's 5-0 win over Malmo ensuring Shakhtar cannot qualify whatever their result on the final matchday.

Ronaldo missed a glorious opportunity to put Real Madrid ahead inside 90 seconds, but blazed over from 12 yards after Luka Modric had picked him out with a well-judged reverse pass.

Benitez made seven changes from the humbling Clasico defeat on Saturday, and three of the players who kept their places were involved in the opener.

Modric and Isco linked superbly in the build-up, leading to a flicked through-ball from the Croatia international into the path of Bale. The Wales forward chipped over the onrushing Andriy Pyatov, leaving Ronaldo a simple header from close range.

The Portugal captain squandered a chance for another on the half-hour mark, but this time his header from Bale's cross was straight at the Shakhtar goalkeeper.

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Having offered little for the majority of the first half, the home side came to life shortly after Raphael Varane was forced off with injury on 33 minutes. The Frenchman was replaced by Danilo, but it was Carvajal who came under pressure from Shakhtar duo Marcio Azevedo and Bernard.  

They caused the Real right-back problems and twice sparked panic in the Madrid box with intelligent crosses, but Mircea Lucescu's side failed to carve out a clear-cut opportunity.

Shortly after half-time, Real looked to have sealed a comfortable win as they struck twice in as many minutes. Ronaldo turned provider for both, first setting up Modric to sweep home after a counter-attack had sprung the Portuguese player forward.

Two minutes later he laid off to Carvajal from a similar position, and the right-back got his revenge on Azevedo with a lovely nutmeg before curling expertly past Pyatov with his weaker foot.

In between the two goals Ronaldo had the opportunity to grab his second of the game, but he was again denied by Pyatov after holding off the challenge of Azevedo.

He finally got his second, and 69th in 68 Champions League appearances since joining Real Madrid, with 20 minutes to play, tapping home at the second attempt after more excellent work by Bale.

Having gone four goals behind, Shakhtar suddenly sprang into life and they nearly staged one of the great Champions League comebacks.

Teixeira dispatched a penalty in the 77th minute after strong running from substitute Taison drew a foul from Casemiro, and Dentinho improvised their second, chesting home at the back post after Madrid failed to clear a corner.

Teixeira then bagged his 23rd goal of a prolific season, side-footing home from eight yards to set up a nervous last few minutes. Lucescu urged his side forward, but the Ukrainians fell at the final hurdle as Real Madrid ended a run of back-to-back defeats.