Drama as Ronaldo secures Real’s passage

REAL MADRID

Ronaldo 90pen

JUVENTUS

Mandzukic 2, 37, Matuidi 61

(Aggregate 4-3)

1

towards extra time, Madrid were awarded a penalty following Mehdi Benatia’s challenge on Lucas Vazquez.

Gianluigi Buffon was shown a red card by Michael Oliver for protesting the decision, leaving Ronaldo to score his 41st goal of the season from the spot past substitute keeper Wojciech Szczesny.

Trailing 3-0, Juventus needed a positive start to get back into the tie and Mandzukic gave the Bianconeri the perfect start by heading home Sami Khedira’s lofted cross to the back post with 90 seconds played to make it 1-0 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate.

Juventus were indebted to their 40-year-old goalkeeper Buffon who denied Isco with a fine save after Ronaldo’s through ball created the chance. That save proved to be crucial as, three minutes later, Mandzukic scored with another back post header. With half an hour to play, Juventus wiped out Madrid’s threegoal advantage. Keylor Navas failed to collect a cross and Matuidi poked the ball home. But then came the sting in the tail when Benatia was adjudged to have fouled Lucas six yards from goal. Buffon took his protests too far and was sent off before Ronaldo, pictured, fired his penalty past Szczesny.