Ronaldo to the rescue for Real
Ronaldo saves it for Real CRISTIANO RONALDO rescued Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign as Gianluigi Buffon’s distinguished career in the competition ended in disgrace.
Ronaldo, the Champions League’s leading scorer, kept his cool to fire home a penalty eight minutes into stoppage-time to put Madrid into the semis 4-3 on aggregate against Juventus.
The 40-year-old Buffon was dismissed for pushing English referee Michael Oliver, who had awarded a penalty for a foul by
Mehdi Benetia on Lucas Vazquez.
It sparked amazing scenes as furious Juve players, who had mounted a stirring comback from 3-0 down in the first leg to take the quarter-final to the verge of extra-time, surrounded Oliver.
Skipper Buffon’s protests went over the top and led to his red card while Ronaldo was made to wait before slamming the spot kick past substitute keeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Buffon planned to retire if his team did not win the Champions League but after this he may have second thoughts.
Juventus, beaten by Madrid in last season’s final, had given Zinedine Zidane’s men an almighty scare.
Mario Mandzukic ended his goal drought with a vengeance with a double while Blaise Matuidi cashed in on a fumble by Real keeper Keylor Navas to level the tie.
Mandzukic, starting in place of the suspended Paulo Dybala, was left unmarked to head home Sami Khedira’s pinpoint cross after just two minutes.
And he was on target again eight minutes from the break, outjumping Dani Carvajal to head home Stephan Lichtsteiner’s delivery.
How shaky Madrid missed banned skipper Sergio Ramos at the heart of their defence. Rookie Jesus Vallejo struggled to cope alongside Raphael Varane.
Bayern Munich went through despite a 0-0 draw with Sevilla.