Cristiano Ronaldo hit a second-half hat-trick as Real Madrid opened their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 victory over 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk in Tuesday's Group A showdown at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Karim Benzema put the hosts ahead in the 30th minute, while Shakhtar had midfielder Taras Stepanenko sent off for a second yellow card five minutes after the re-start.
Real, helped by a dubious penalty, doubled their lead through Ronaldo five minutes later and the Portugal international scored his second when he converted another spot-kick in the 63rd minute after Marcio Azevedo's clear handball.
Ronaldo capped off a wonderful evening for the home side when he headed his third of the night 10 minutes from time.
Real went ahead despite playing in numerical inferiority after Gareth Bale needed medical attention. Andrei Pyatov failed to hold onto Isco's dangerous cross in the box and Benzema struck the rebound into the back of the net.
Stepanenko was handed his marching orders after a late challenge on Sergio Ramos.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors as the referee awarded Real a penalty even though Ronaldo's goal-bound shot came off the back of Shakhtar captain Darijo Srna. Pyatov guessed correctly but could not get a touch on Ronaldo's spot-kick.
In the 58th minute Nacho replaced Ramos, who went off with a shoulder injury and Real earned another penalty after Azevedo's handball. Ronaldo struck the spot-kick towards the same corner as before to beat Pyatov.
The Portuguese, who had scored five against Levante to open his goalscoring account this season, found the target again.
Marcelo's shot from outside the area was palmed away by Pyatov but Ronaldo headed home the rebound.
