Ronaldo magic leaves Juve reeling
Stunning bicycle kick helps Real to resounding victory
TURIN, Italy — Cristiano Ronaldo scored one of the greatest goals in Champions League history as he struck twice for holder Real Madrid in a 3-0 win at Juventus in Tuesday’s quarterfinal first leg.
Ronaldo grabbed the opening goal in Turin after just three minutes to become the first player to score in 10 successive Champions League games and added a second on the hour with a sensational overhead bicycle kick, taking him to 14 goals in this season’s competition.
Juventus forward Paulo Dybala was sent off on 66 minutes before Ronaldo set up Marcelo to cap the rout and leave Real in complete control of the tie going into the second leg in Madrid on April 11.
Ronaldo, 33, had shared the previous goalscoring record with former Manchester United teammate Ruud van Nistelrooy, who found the net in nine consecutive matches between 2002 and 2003.
“You can say he’s one of the most beautiful players in the history of football,” said Real coach Zinedine Zidane.
“It’s not easy to get three goals past Juve on their own pitch. But in the end it was teamwork, you have to work as a team to get this result.”
“Of course Juventus aren’t happy with the result tonight, but I will always have Juve in my heart,” added Zidane, who spent five seasons at the Italian club as a player.
“This 3-0 is really hard to digest,” said Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri, who has guided his side to the final twice in the past three seasons.
“In my opinion, from Cardiff (last year’s final defeat against Real) to today we have even improved.
“There is absolutely nothing to hold against the lads. We faced an extraordinary team with probably the best player in the world. Now we have to raise our heads, think about the future and the championship.”
Zidane opted for the same lineup as last year’s final when the Spaniards crushed Juve 4-1 to claim a record 12th European title, with Isco preferred to Gareth Bale.
Some dreadful Juve defending gave Isco the space on the left flank to supply Ronaldo for the opener, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon helpless to stop the Portuguese’s expert flick.
Mattia De Sciglio sent a shot flashing across goal on 34 minutes that just evaded the sliding Gonzalo Higuain, who was then denied by a stunning reflex save from Keylor Navas after getting on the end of a Dybala freekick.
Real looked set to score again when Toni Kroos latched onto a loose ball, his blistering long-range effort rattling the crossbar.
The Spanish giant will be without captain Ramos next week after the centerback was booked for a foul on Dybala, whose resulting freekick was deflected just wide.
But Real doubled its lead when confusion in the Juve defense allowed Ronaldo to keep alive an attack before Dani Carvajal crossed back into the area where Ronaldo connected with an outrageous bicycle kick, a strike that earned the applause of the home crowd.
Just a minute later Dybala received his second yellow card for a raised boot on Carvajal, and with a man down there was no stopping Real as Marcelo put a third past Buffon from a Ronaldo assist.
‘Like Pele, Maradona’
“We saw what Ronaldo is and always has been — a player of an extraordinary level who along with Leo Messi is achieving the greatest heights,” said Buffon.
“This means they can be compared to Maradona and Pele for the way they ultimately are able to decide matches and trophies won by their teams.”
“I feel great regret and disappointment,” added the 40-year-old.
“Because we probably won’t be able to go forward in the tournament and that is a regret, a big regret, but it’s also true that when you meet certain opponents, you must have a clear enough head to recognize they are objectively stronger.”
Mateo Kovacic almost added a fourth when he hit the crossbar, with Buffon stopping a further Ronaldo effort and the Portuguese missing another late chance.
Ronaldo — who has now scored 23 goals in all competition for Madrid in 2018 — earned a standing ovation from the Juventus fans as he left the pitch.
Of course Juventus aren’t happy with the result tonight, but I will always have Juve in my heart.”
Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid coach, who played for the Italian club