The defender became only the second player after Barcelona’s Lionel Messi to score in 16 consecutive Spanish league campaigns when he slotted home from the penalty spot at the second time of asking for Real’s third goal in the 24th minute.
* Goals by Anwar El Ghazi and Ahmed Elmohamady saw Aston Villa edge Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the League Cup on Wednesday.
* Marcus Rashford stopped a resurgent Chelsea in their tracks as his sensational free kick fired Manchester United into the League Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. The draw for the quarter-finals is on Thursday in which United will be joined by Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Leicester City, Everton, Colchester United and Oxford.
* Cristiano Ronaldo controversially won and then converted a stoppage-time penalty, seconds after having a goal chalked off for offside, as Juventus finally broke down 10-man Genoa to win 2-1 and go back to the top of Serie A on Wednesday. Ronaldo went down under a challenge from Antonio Sanabria and, although their was minimal contact if any at all, the referee pointed to the spot and the VAR officials confirmed the decision with a silent check.
* Anfield debutant Curtis Jones scored the winning spot-kick as Liverpool beat Arsenal on penalties after an astonishing 5-5 draw to reach the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.
* Borussia Dortmund's Julian Brandt scored twice in three minutes late in the second half to help them come from a goal down and beat visitors Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-1 on Wednesday in the German Cup second round. RB Leipzig hammered VfL Wolfsburg, who are still unbeaten in the league, 6-1 with Timo Werner scoring twice, while Werder Bremen beat second tier Heidenheim 4-1.
* Italy midfielder Marco Verratti has extended his contract with Paris St Germain by three years until 2024, the French champions said on Wednesday. The 26-year-old, who joined the Ligue 1 club in 2012, is the only PSG player to have shared in all their trophy success since Qatar Sports Investment took over in 2011.
* Atalanta snatched a late 2-2 draw away to Napoli amid chaotic scenes on Wednesday as Josip Ilicic scored their equaliser seconds after their opponents had a penalty appeal waved away.
* The 72-year-old Dick Advocaat has agreed to take over at Feyenoord for the rest of the season after the departure of Jaap Stam, Dutch media said on Wednesday. Former Manchester United defender Stam lasted just 120 days in the job, resigning on Monday.
* World number one Novak Djokovic recovered from a stuttering start to kick off his Paris Masters campaign with a 7-6(2) 6-4 second-round victory over French youngster Corentin Moutet on Wednesday. World number two Rafael Nadal, who will leapfrog Djokovic in the rankings if he wins in Paris, eased past France's Adrian Mannarino 7-5 6-4.
* World number two Rory McIlroy said he is motivated to get back into the winner's circle at this week's WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai to further his quest to reclaim golf's top ranking. After securing a tied-third finish at the Zozo Championship in Japan last week, McIlroy will return to action on Thursday at Sheshan International Golf Club, playing alongside American Xander Schauffele and England's Justin Rose for the opening two rounds.
* Roger Federer said on Wednesday he has withdrawn from the inaugural ATP Cup in Australia in January next year so he can spend more time with his family. Top-ranked Novak Djokovic and world number two Rafa Nadal have confirmed they will play, as has former world number one Andy Murray.
* The 8th seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine moved one step closer to defending her finals crown with a straight-sets 7-5, 6-3 win over world No. 5 Wimbledon champion Simona Halep of Romania in their purple group round-robin clash at the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen on Wednesday.
