Ronaldo pushes Madrid to victory
Paris Saint-Germain’s dream of joining Europe’s elite with a Champions League trophy will have to wait another season, as Real Madrid delivered a brutal reality check by cruising through to the quarterfinals with a 2-1 win Tuesday night.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s powerful header — his 12th goal of the competition — and a deflected effort from midfielder Casemiro either side of a close-range finish from PSG’s Edinson Cavani sent Madrid through 5-2 on aggregate.
Madrid is seeking its third straight title and 13th overall.
Ronaldo scored in the 51st minute. In the teams’ first game, he scored twice and has scored in nine Champions League games in a row, matching Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record.
Liverpool also reached the quarterfinals, coasting to a 0-0 draw against Porto to clinch a 5-0 aggregate win in the last 16.
The British government says politicians might not attend the World Cup in Russia if Moscow is proven to be behind the unexplained illness of a former spy.
Sergei Skripal and his daughter are in critical condition after collapsing in the English city of Salisbury on Sunday.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told the House of Commons there would be a “robust” British response if Russian involvement is proven, which could impact participation in the World Cup.
The Foreign Office later clarified that the comment referred to dignitaries and officials, not the England soccer team, which is scheduled to compete at the tournament, which starts in June.