Real Madrid punches knockout round ticket for 20th consecutive season

Real Madrid and the Champions League knockout stage have been synonymous with one another for two decades.

That's still the case, as Los Blancos secured their spot in the next round for the 20th straight season on Tuesday, extending their own tournament record by heading back to Cristiano Ronaldo's old stomping grounds and brushing Sporting Lisbon aside 2-1, courtesy of a first-half goal by Raphael Varane and a late strike by Karim Benzema.

Varane's fortuitous goal came on the half-hour mark, as Ronaldo failed to connect on a corner kick, but managed to scuff the ball into the path of the French defender, who quickly turned and buried it.

Joao Pereira compounded Sporting's misery in the 64th minute, picking up a red card for what looked like a punch to Mateo Kovacic. The Portuguese side rallied late, however, earning a penalty in the 80th minute off a handball against Fabio Coentrao.

Adrien buried the effort to restore the draw, but Benzema ensured Real's win with an 87th-minute strike of his own, reading a cross from Sergio Ramos and getting a head on the ball before celebrating the game-winner.

Real Madrid now moves into the knockout stage once more, but the night wasn't entirely perfect as Gareth Bale hobbled off just before the hour mark with an apparent ankle issue.