Ronaldo replies in Real style
CRISTIANO Ronaldo answered his critics in style last night as his 89th Champions League goal gave Real Madrid a great chance of ending their 29- year hoodoo against Italian sides.
Ronaldo walked out of a press conference on Tuesday after being questioned about his record in away matches. But he gave the perfect response as he made the difference in Rome.
Ronaldo had been quiet early on as a Real
ROMA
REAL MADRID
side missing the injured Gareth Bale found it diffi cult to break down Roma’s resistance at the Stadio Olimpico.
However, just before the hour Ronaldo came to life.
After latching on to Marcelo’s ball down the left, he cut inside with a cute back- heel that took him past Alessandro Florenzi before fi ring in a shot from just outside the box that defl ected off the defender and over Wojciech Szczesny.
The goal seemed to wake up Zinedine Zidane’s men in his fi rst Champions League game in charge, and Ronaldo and Karim Benzema both went close before Real doubled their lead.
Jese picked the ball up 50 yards out, drove forward and unleashed a fi erce drive that found the bottom corner to give them their fi rst away win in Italy.
Real now head for the return leg at the Bernabeu confi dent of knocking an Italian side out of Europe for the fi rst time since 1987.
In last night’s other clash, Wolfsburg survived a late rally by Belgian champions Gent to win 3- 2. Julian Draxler scored twice for the Germans, who were 3- 0 up .