It’s ton-up Ronaldo as Real rally
CRISTIANO Ronaldo became the first player to score 100 goals in European club competition with a predatory double as Real Madrid came from behind to take the initiative in the first leg against 10-man Bayern Munich last night.
Ronaldo latched on to Dani Carvajal’s cross two minutes into the second half to snatch a priceless away goal for the defending champions and 11-time winners.
Then he stunned the Allianz Arena – and his former Real coach Carlo Ancelotti – by going one better in the 77th minute after substitute Marco Asensio provided the assist.
Manuel Neuer will feel he should have done better for the winner as the Portuguese stabbed a shot through his legs from close range.
But Neuer kept Bayern in the game by saving brilliantly from Gareth Bale – who had a quiet night – Karim Benzema and Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, who broke a run of six games in the Champions League without a goal, also won the free-kick after a crunching tackle by Javi Martinez after 61 minutes that led to the Bayern defender’s second yellow card – three minutes after being booked for
BAYERN MUNICH
another foul on Ronaldo.
It was not Bayern’s night. Arturo Vidal gave them a 25th-minute lead that their first-half dominance deserved, heading home Thiago Alcantara’s cross.
But the Chile midfielder was left rueing not extending his side’s advantage when he missed a penalty right on half-time, shooting high, wide and handsome after Carvajal handled.
Three years ago, Ancelotti’s Real powered past Bayern 5-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals on the way to their sought-after La Decima – a 10th triumph in Europe’s top club competition.
Adding spice to last night’s encounter was the Italian’s tilt against Zinedine Zidane, his former assistant in Madrid.
Zidane was keen to play down the match- up, saying: “We’re not lining up against Carlo. This is a completely different game.
“I think our team are better than in 2014 – but we need to prove it.” They are halfway to showing just that.