Real Madrid confirm Sergio Ramos dislocated shoulder in Champions League victory

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos is set for a spell on the sidelines after it was confirmed he dislocated his left shoulder during Tuesday's Champions League win against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos is set for a spell on the sidelines after it was confirmed he dislocated his left shoulder during Tuesday's Champions League win against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Rafael Benitez's side began their Group A campaign in fine style as Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick and Karim Benzema was also on target in a 4-0 victory at the Bernabeu - but the triumph was overshadowed by Ramos' injury.

The 29-year-old Spain international centre-back was hurt when he fell awkwardly following a sliding tackle from Shakhtar defender Taras Stepanenko, who was sent off for the challenge.

Real revealed the diagnosis on Wednesday following tests but did not indicate how long Ramos would be out of action in a statement on their official website.

The statement said: "Following the tests carried out on Sergio Ramos today in the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital, the player has been diagnosed with a dislocated acromioclavicular joint in his left shoulder. His condition will be evaluated."

Ramos later posted a picture on Twitter of him giving a thumbs-up with his left shoulder heavily strapped, with the message: "Always with a smile, whatever happens. Working hard to come back stronger."

Gareth Bale was also substituted during the match against the Ukrainian side after suffering a first-half ankle injury.

Angel Di Maria pleased to score first PSG goal in Champions League victory

Angel Di Maria acknowledged the importance of making a winning start after scoring his first goal for Paris St Germain as they began their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Malmo on Tuesday night.

Angel Di Maria acknowledged the importance of making a winning start after scoring his first goal for Paris St Germain as they began their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Malmo on Tuesday night.

Di Maria, a £44.3million summer signing from Manchester United, gave PSG a fourth-minute lead at the Parc des Princes when he collected a pass on the right wing from Marco Verratti, cut inside into the penalty area and lifted a delightful shot into the top corner.

Edinson Cavani then headed home a second on the hour mark to give the Ligue 1 champions a winning start in Group A - which also includes 10-times European champions Real Madrid.

Di Maria was making only his second start since joining Laurent Blanc's side in August and was pleased to open his account and send Les Parisiens on their way to victory.

"It was important to win tonight. It worked well, it was important to launch this European campaign with a victory," the Argentina international winger told his club's official website.

"Now we will try to continue along this path. Personally I am happy to have scored my first goal."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was pleased to return to PSG's line-up and face the club where he started his career 16 years ago after overcoming an abdominal injury.

He said: "I had a lot of motivation to the idea of ​​facing my former team of Malmo, where it all started for me.

"I have not been effective in front of goal, but I do not have a lot of game in the legs.

"It's very important to start with a win, because we start in a good position for future meetings."

PSG came into the fixture having dropped their first league points of the season at home against Bordeaux last Friday and Blanc was pleased to get back to winning ways.

"We quickly showed our intentions with Angel scoring first thing in the game," the former France boss said.

"There was more concentration and motivation than during our last league match against Bordeaux.

"It's always difficult to win a Champions League match. So it is good to be able to launch our campaign with a 2-0 win.

"We realise that we can still do better, but this is only the beginning of the season."

Rafael Benitez hails Real Madrid hat-trick hero Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez hailed the performance of goal-scoring hero Cristiano Ronaldo as his team saw off Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0 in their Champions League opener on Tuesday.

Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez hailed the performance of goal-scoring hero Cristiano Ronaldo as his team saw off Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0 in their Champions League opener on Tuesday.

Ronaldo scored three second-half goals - two from the penalty spot - after Karim Benzema had put Real ahead on the half-hour.

The Portugal international had already silenced his critics at the weekend when, having failed to score since a pre-season friendly in July, he hit five goals past Espanyol in Saturday's 6-0 triumph in Barcelona.

When asked about Ronaldo, Benitez told the Spanish press: "What surprises me is that the media beat around the bush about what is said rather than what is done on the pitch.

"There is no debate, he is the best in the world. I have great admiration for him."

The Spanish giants, who have yet to concede a goal this season, wasted plenty of chances early on before Benzema put them on their way.

"It was a difficult game," Benitez said. "Shakhtar held possession and that complicated us in terms of defending.

"It wasn't easy even though we had opportunities.

"I'm happy that we created chances, that we took advantage of some of them and the fact that we didn't concede."

Real have not conceded so far this season, keeping clean sheets in their opening three Primera Division games prior to this match.

Tuesday's win at the Bernabeu stadium lifted them to the top of Group A, level on three points with French champions Paris St Germain, who won 2-0 at home to Malmo.

It was not all good news for Real with Gareth Bale, Raphael Varane and captain Sergio Ramos sustaining injuries.

Bale hurt his left calf, Varane suffered a knock on his ankle and Ramos injured his shoulder.

"The injuries are the only negative aspect of the night," Benitez said.

"Bale had a spasm in his soleus muscle and we have to wait one or two days to know the extent of the injury.

"Ramos and Varane picked up knocks and I'm more optimistic about them.

"With Bale we have to wait."

Real host Granada in La Liga on Saturday and return to European competition on September 30 with a trip to Sweden to face Malmo FF.

Cristiano Ronaldo nets second-half hat-trick as Real dominate 10-man Shakhtar

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.

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.