Record-breaker Ronaldo helps Madrid end on high

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his record ninth goal in this season's UEFA Champions League group stage as Real Madrid CF finished unbeaten at the top of Group B, ending FC København's slim hopes of prolonging their European campaign.

Luka Modrić's curling shot gave the visitors a 25th-minute lead before Ronaldo completed Madrid's fifth win in six matches three minutes into the second period. That set a new mark for a group stage and the Portuguese international had the chance to take his personal haul ten with a late penalty, but Johan Wiland saved the chipped effort.

Needing to avoid defeat to have any possibility of claiming third place, København – who had never lost a UEFA Champions League game at Parken Stadium – were forced into an early reshuffle as Nicolai Jørgensen, a doubt with a thigh injury, lasted only nine minutes. The home side made light of the disruption in front of another capacity crowd but the vibrant atmosphere was punctured midway through the opening period.

Having collected possession on the edge of the area, Modrić feinted to shoot with his left foot and then checked back on to his right to curl a sumptuous effort beyond Wiland and into the top corner. Madrid sought to press home their dominance before the break and Ronaldo tested the goalkeeper on several occasions; although he came up short then, the Madrid No7 did not have long to wait.

Pepe was the unlikely architect of Ronaldo's record-breaking strike, heading Marcelo's deep centre back across the face of goal. Having escaped the attentions of the FCK defence, Ronaldo made no mistake from close range.

København refused to concede defeat and went close to reducing the arrears more than once, although Ronaldo regularly reminded them of his considerable threat at the other end. Fifteen minutes from time, he tricked his way into the box but his left-foot drive came back off the post.

The Madrid forward had an even better opportunity a minute from time having been felled by Thomas Delaney, getting up to take the spot kick himself. Wiland dived to his right, yet still managed to reach up and block Ronaldo's attempted chip – a rare moment of frustration in a memorable group stage for the No7 and his team.