Ronaldo hits hat-trick as city rivals left stunned

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Real Madrid star fires second successive treble in first leg

REAL MADRID 3 ATLETICO MADRID 0

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid swept aside city rivals Atletico 3-0 at the Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final last night.

Ronaldo had taken his tally of European goals to 100 in the quarterfinal win over Bayern Munich, which included a second-leg treble, and was once more the man for the big occasion to put the holders within touching distance of the final again.

The Portugal forward headed Real in front on 10 minutes, although he appeared to have been offside in the initial build-up.

There was, though, no controversy about Ronaldo’s second goal with 17 minutes left as he lashed the ball in from the edge of the Atletico penalty area.

Ronaldo completed his hat-trick for the second successive Champions League fixture when he swept in Lucas Vazquez’s cut-back on 86 minutes.

Atletico, beaten in last season’s final by Real, rarely threatened and now have it all to do at the Vicente Calderon next Wednesday night.

The two city rivals were meeting in Europe’s elite competition for a fourth successive year, with Real having also won the 2014 final.

Home fans at the Bernabeu unfurled a giant banner before kick-off which showed the venues of all of Los Blancos’ record 11 victories in the competition, which on this display could yet have Cardiff 2017 added to the list.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone had warned of a strong start from Real, and that is exactly what his team faced.

Right-back Dani Carvajal darted into the penalty area and drove in a low shot which goalkeeper Jan Oblak palmed on to Real forward Karim Benzema, who could only prod the ball wide.

It was, though, only a matter of time