Story so far: Real Madrid CF

Holders Real Madrid CF could not have enjoyed a better UEFA Champions League group stage. The Whites became the sixth team to win all their games and the first to do so twice, having initially achieved the feat in 2011/12.  

Story so far
Madrid enjoyed a clean sweep of Group B victories as they laid down a marker for the rest of the continent. The 5-1 defeat of FC Basel 1893 on matchday one was a sign of things to come, with a 2-1 triumph at PFC Ludogorets Razgrad backing up their impressive start.

Back-to-back successes against Liverpool FC – a club the Merengues had never beaten – ensured qualification, before a 1-0 win in Basel and a 4-0 demolition of Ludogorets made it a maximum 18 points for Carlo Ancelotti's men.

Pivotal moment
Shocked by Marcelinho's early opener for Ludogorets in their matchday two meeting, Madrid recovered to narrowly defeat their Bulgarian hosts. It was far from plain sailing, however. Cristiano Ronaldo had a penalty saved four minutes later, but did get the better of Vladislav Stoyanov from the spot midway through the half.   

Ancelotti's men struggled in their pursuit of a second goal and were heading for a draw against the group stage debutants until substitute Karim Benzema slotted in a fine cross from Marcelo with a little under a quarter of an hour remaining.

Key player: Cristiano Ronaldo
The Portugal captain completed all but 15 minutes of the group stage, leading from the front with five goals, including the winner in Basel. Wearing the armband on matchday six, Ronaldo converted a penalty at home to Ludogorets. It was his 72nd goal in Europe's premier club competition, moving him ahead of club legend Raúl González into second place on the UEFA Champions League all-time scorers' list.

Rising star: Isco
The 22-year-old has started to make an impact at Madrid this season following his reported €30m move from Málaga CF in summer 2013. Isco's guile and vision from a central midfield position have produced one goal and five assists in the Liga this term, and big things are expected of him for club and country in the years to come.

Number: 16
Madrid were sublime in attack, scoring 16 goals (ten of which were shared between Ronaldo and Benzema) as they finished 11 points clear of second-placed Basel.

Quote
"Madrid have top-level players; they take the game away from you in three touches. Frankly, that's what happened."
Basel forward Derlis Gonzalez gives an honest assessment of what playing against Madrid is like.

Next challenge: FC Schalke 04
(Away: 18 February, home: 10 March)
Madrid overwhelmed Schalke in last season's round of 16, winning 6-1 in Gelsenkirchen and 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu. Cristiano Ronaldo scored four of those goals, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema contributing two each.