Ronaldo rescues Madrid after sensational Juve comeback

Madrid, April 12: Cristiano Ronaldo rescued Real Madrid from a shock Champions League exit as his injury-time penalty allowed the holders to edge out Juventus in the most dramatic of quarterfinals, taking them through despite a 1-3 defeat.

Real had looked certain to make the last four following last week’s 3-0 first-leg victory in Turin, but Juve staged a sensational comeback in the return at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Mario Mandzukic’s two first-half headers kept the dream alive before Blaise Matuidi capitalised on a Keylor Navas error to pull the Italians level with half an hour left.

But, just as a thrilling second leg looked to be heading for extra time, English referee Michael Oliver awarded Real a penalty in stoppage time.

With the game in the 97th minute, Ronaldo made no mistake from 12 yards, ensuring a 1-3 defeat on the night but a 4-3 win on aggregate.

Gianluigi Buffon, making his 125th and perhaps final Champions League appearance before retirement, was sent off for his protests. If it is to be the 40year-old’s European farewell, it was a sad way to end.

Real conceded the opener after just 76 seconds, the fastest they have ever conceded at home in the Champions League.

But Ronaldo came up trumps again, scoring in his 11th consecutive fixture in this competition, extending his own record, and keeping Real on course for a third consecutive European triumph.

Zidane had handed Gareth Bale his first Champions League start since September but this was far from a night of redemption for the Welshman. He was hauled off at half-time, with Real In Munich, Jupp Heynckes’ Bayern Munich marched into another Champions League semifinal despite 10-man Sevilla holding them to a goalless draw at home in the second leg.

Bayern progressed to the last four of the competition for the seventh time in nine seasons as they prevailed 21 on aggregate on Wednesday following their first-leg victory.

“Sevilla are a good team but we stopped them scoring — that was important,” said Bayern winger Arjen Robben. — AFP