Basle 0-1 Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo bundles home to keep Lionel Messi on his toes and fire Carlo Ancelotti's men into last 16

• Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring on 35 minutes with a simple finish to a move by Karim Benzema
• Real Madrid maintain a 100 per cent record in Champions League Group B with one match remaining 

Cristiano Ronaldo’s first half tap-in proved the difference for Real Madrid in a far from convincing three points for the Champions League Group B leaders at Basle.

The Portuguese couldn’t go close to matching the hat-trick heroics of Lionel Messi on Tuesday night but his simple finish on 35 minutes took him level in the all-time Champions League scorers list with Raul on 71 - three behind Messi.

Ronaldo, an 'honourary Scouser' for the night such was Liverpool’s need for a Real win, did the job for both his and Brendan Rodgers’ struggling side when he was perfectly placed at the near post to bundle home Benzema’s cut-back from the byline. 

Carlo Ancelotti's side are now assured top spot in Group B with a match remaining while Liverpool and Basle face each other in a showdown for the other last 16 place after the Reds drew 2-2 with Ludogorets. 

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates the opening goal for Real Madrid after taking advantage of an excellent run by Karim Benzema

Ronaldo wheels away after bundling home from close range to give Real the 1-0 lead at St Jakob Park

MATCH FACTS 

Basle: Vaclik, Defan, Schar, Suchy, Safari, Elneny, F Frei, Zuffi, Gonzalez, Embolo, Gashi.

Substitutes not used: To follow 

Goals:Nil  

Real Madrid: Navas, Arbeloa, Varane, Ramos, Coentrao, Kroos, Isco, James, Bale, Ronaldo, Benzema.

Substitutes not used: To follow 

Goals: Ronaldo

The goal brought Basle to life and the Swiss finished the second half the stronger side, with Breel Embolo and Shkelzen Gashi proving particular handfuls but lacking the killer touch.

Real piled on the pressure early in the second half with Gareth Bale and James James Rodriguez threatening from either flank.

Ronaldo forced Vaclík into a save low to his right with a wobbling free-kick from 30 yards, but the Czech keeper was up to the challenge.

Gashi at the other end then did brilliantly to bring a ball down in the penalty area only for his volley on the bounce to fly way off target and into the unknowing hand of Sergio Ramos.

With space offered to both sides, Gashi again had a chance to strike level on the hour mark from the top of the box but could only manage a lame grass cutter towards Navas’s shins.

It was Gashi again with a tough header from the top of the box from a pin-point cross-field ball from teenager Embolo, but it sailed wide.

Almost immediately Embolo surged into the box and was caught though he may regret keeping his feet after being denied again by Navas.

Basle's Breel Embolo (left) he clipped by Real's Raphael Varane (right) but keeps his feet as he surges through the penalty area

Keylor Navas cut down the young striker's angle at the near post to make a vital save

Embolo, dangerous throughout the match, watches his shot sail wide off the hands of Navas

Bale had his best chance of the match when he chose power over placement and crashed his shot into the crossbar from close range.

Almost as soon as Basle removed Degen for striker Hamoudi, Real were on the break again with Bale slipping Ronaldo in behind with his simple finish only brushing the outside of the left post.

More to follow... 

Ronaldo is approached by supporters on the pitch after their narrow win over Basle in Switzerland

Stewards remove the fans as the sole goal scorer watches on

Ronaldo gives a thumbs up as a Real Madrid fan appraoches on the pitch before the game at St Jakob Park