IS THIS THE GREATEST EVER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GOAL?
Out of this world: Cristiano Ronaldo’s unbelievable overhead kick gives Real Madrid their second goal as they beat Juventus 3-0 in Turin
FORTY thousand were on their feet and slowly they started to applaud. Just a ripple at first but it quickly gathered force to become a standing ovation.
The Italians were not happy to be on the receiving end of a breath- taking moment of athletic brilliance yet they were prepared to acknowledge a genius at work.
Such moments are rare in a sport of tribes and such is the effect of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The crowd in Turin held its collective breath as he took off, springing high into the air, twisting his body with his back to goal as he tracked the arc of a cross from Dani Carvajal.
Everyone knew the discipline he was about to attempt came with an extreme degree of difficulty.
Yet few doubted him. Sure enough, Ronaldo delivered. He always does. The bigger the stage the better as far as he is concerned.
His body uncoiled, his muscles were unleashed, his timing was perfect and an exquisite scissor kick flashed past the frozen figure of Gigi Buffon.
The ball nestled into the net, and Real Madrid were 2-0 up away from home, well on their way to the last four of a competition they have won for the last two years. Juventus, conquerors of Tottenham in the last round, were staring at the Euro exit and still their fans stood generously in recognition for one of the great players — and one of the great Champions League goals.
It was certainly one worthy of comparison to the famous volley scored by his manager Zinedine Zidane to win the trophy in 2002.
Ronaldo, having already scored the opener, basked in the acclaim and another clatter of records. He is the first to score in 10 successive Champions League games, a sequence started in last year’s final against Juventus.
From Cardiff to Turin he has led Real Madrid in pursuit of another European title. Another will take his personal record to five, level with four others and only one behind Paco Gento on six.
Do not discount it. He is 33 but Ronaldo is getting better, certainly more influential.
His first came within three minutes, a vital away goal to put pressure on Juventus.
With an injection of pace, Ronaldo eased across the Juventus centre halves and stabbed at Isco’s low cross with the outside of his right foot, sending the ball whistling past Buffon.
His form in this high- class competition is staggering. So, too, his recent overall strike rate. He has scored 23 in a dozen games for Real Madrid.
Ronaldo has mastered the art of influencing games at the elite level.
His second will live long in the memory and knocked the fight from Juventus, who were soon reduced to 10 men when Paulo Dybala was sent off for a second yellow card. The first was shown for a dive just before half- time, a sign of desperation creeping in after squandered chances.
Marcelo stormed forward from left back to knock in the third and Juventus were beaten for the first time since November.
Sergio Ramos will miss the second leg after a yellow card but the fixture is little more than a formality.
Real stride on towards the hat-trick and Ronaldo gets better with age, mature beyond all the pouting and posturing and simply a privilege to watch.
n BAYERN MUNICH scored two deflected goals as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Sevilla in last night’s other quarter-final. Pablo Sarabia gave Sevilla a deserved firsthalf lead, but an own goal from Jesus Navas drew Bayern level before Thiago Alcantara headed the winner, deflected off Sergio Escudero.