100 EURO GOALS FOR RONALDO
YOU will be familiar with the routine. A jump in the air, arms stretched down by his side, chest puffed out, then a roar of delight. It is the Cristiano Ronaldo goal celebration, one you will have seen over and over in the Champions League down the years. Except not so much this season. In the competition he has almost made his own, Ronaldo incredibly had not hit the target since September 27.
But after the famine comes the feast. Having gone 659 minutes without a goal, two arrived with in the space of 30 second-half minutes, enabling him to create history — he is the first man to score 100 times in Europe — and put Real Madrid on the brink of the semi-finals.
Bayern, really, should be out and it was only down to the brilliance of Manuel Neuer that they will travel to Madrid with a glimmer of hope. The best goalkeeper in the world did all he could to stop Zinedine Zidane’s men running riot but his best could not thwart Ronaldo.
‘He was happy in the dressing room,’ said Zidane. ‘But he was not fully happy as he had the chance to score a third. He has so much ambition. But in the end we are happy. It’s not easy to get this result.’
The Champions League is an obsession for both clubs. Real Madrid’s appetite for an extraordinary 12th success is insatiable, while Bayern’s desire to claim a sixth title borders on the fanatical.
Madrid found their stride quickest. In the first 15 minutes, it was they who played the most convincing football and had it not been for a stunning save from Neuer, the lead would have been theirs in the 15th minute.
Karim Benzema had almost begun to wheel away in celebration when he got his head to Toni Kroos’ in- swinging cross but, somehow, Neuer flung himself acrobatically to tip the attempt on to the bar.
It jolted Bayern into life and in the 26th minute Carlo Ancelotti’s men had the lead when Arturo vidal powered in a thunderous header. If only the Chilean had shown similar poise in first-half stoppage time when he thrashed a penalty awarded for handball over the bar.
It changed the game. Madrid returned reinvigorated and, within 90 seconds of the second half starting, parity had been restored with a glorious goal. Casemiro drilled a pass out to Carvajal, the right back fizzed a first time cross into the area for Ronaldo to volley past Neuer.
Suddenly black shirts swarmed forward and the sense of dread rose within the stadium. Neuer kept Bayern’s head above water, flinging himself to repel Bale’s point- blank header. It was Bale’s last action as he was substituted as precaution because of a muscle injury. He reported it too be ‘not too bad’.
Real went through the gears and exploited the extra space when Javi Martinez was stupidly sent off for two bookable challenges on Ronaldo 173 seconds apart.
The reigning champions got the scent of blood and ruthlessly took advantage, Ronaldo prodding in Marco Acensio’s cross to give Madrid a priceless advantage.
It would have been worse for Munich had Sergio Ramos not seen a goal disallowed for offside in stoppage time.
‘In football you never know,’ Zidane argued. Yet there are certain things you do know. Like Ronaldo proving himself the match-winner.
BAYERN MUNICH (4-2-3-1): Neuer 8.5; Lahm 7, Martinez 6, Boateng 6, Alaba 6; Alonso 7 (Bernat 63min, 6), Vidal 7; Robben 6, Thiago 7, Ribery 6 (Costa 66, 6); Muller 6 (Coman 81). Subs not used: Ulreich, Rafinha, Kimmich, Sanches. Booked: Alonso, Martinez, Vidal. Sent off: Martinez.
REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Navas 6; Carvajal 8, Nacho 6, Ramos 7, Marcelo 7; Modric 7 (Kovacic 90), Casemiro 8, Kroos 7; Bale 6.5 (Asensio 58, 8), Benzema 8, Ronaldo 8.5 (Rodriguez 83).
Subs not used: Casilla, Morata, Isco, Danilo. Booked: Kroos, Carvajal. Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy). Man of the match: Cristiano Ronaldo.