Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals, the second a stunning overhead kick, as Real Madrid beat Juventus 3-0 in Turin to take charge of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie.
Into his 34th year and Ronaldo retains the ability to amaze. His second strike was so good even the opposing fans had to stand up and applaud, AP reported.
Even by Ronaldo’s record-breaking standards, this one was special. He has scored 119 Champions League goals in his storied career, and his bicycle kick against Juventus is being lauded as one of his best.
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon had just pulled off a fantastic save to deny Lucas Vazquez but the move continued and Ronaldo leaped acrobatically into the air to meet a cross with his back to goal and smashed the ball into the bottom right corner.
The stadium broke into applause and even Juventus fans rose to give him an ovation, having jeered his every touch previously. Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, once a player of extraordinary gifts himself, clutched his head in amazement.
Different Player
“Cristiano is simply a different player than all the others,” Zidane said. “He shows that every time. He always has a great desire to do great things in the Champions League, he never gets tired of doing what he does. … I’m the coach but also a fan. That’s why I put my hands on my head.”
Ronaldo had also scored the opening goal just three minutes into the game, and he later set up the third for Marcelo as Madrid took a commanding lead back home for the second leg.
In the process, the Portuguese star became the first player in Champions League history to score in 10 successive matches.
Juventus was out for revenge after losing the final 4-1 to Madrid last year. But Ronaldo once again came out on top.
“There are two teams better than anyone and they are those that have (Lionel) Messi and Ronaldo,” Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said. “They have won 10 Ballons d’Or in 10 years, they have been the Champions League’s top goalscorers for 10 years. For that reason Real Madrid and Barcelona have the advantage.”
It could have been worse for Juventus as Ronaldo missed several chances to complete his hat trick, while Mateo Kovacic hit the bar late on.
Mission Impossible
Juventus now has a near-impossible task to turn the quarterfinal around against the two-time defending champions in the return leg on April 11, after falling to its first home defeat in the Champions League since April 2013.
“You never know in football,” Allegri said. “We have to prepare it in the best way possible because it’s a quarterfinal and everyone will be watching us.”
Sevilla also lost at home in the night’s other quarterfinal, as Bayern Munich came from behind to win 2-1.
Jesus Navas’ own goal cancelled out Pablo Sarabia’s opener and Thiago Alcantara headed in the winner for Bayern in the 68th minute.
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