Real Madrid put one foot in the Champions League semi-finals with a 3-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund, as Cristiano Ronaldo equalled the competition’s all-time record for a single season by scoring his 14th goal of the tournament.
Gareth Bale got the ball rolling with an early strike before Isco – playing instead of the unwell Angel Di Maria – made it two.
Ronaldo’s moment of glory came in the second half, with his strike bringing him level with the season’s tally achieved by Lionel Messi two years ago and AC Milan striker Jose Altafini in 1963.
The hosts were sharp and bright from the opening whistle, and didn’t need long to go ahead.
Karim Benzema was the instigator, drifting onto the right wing before releasing the onrushing Dani Carvajal, who in turn played a pass to Bale, allowing the Welshman to take one touch before stabbing a low shot past the onrushing Roman Weidenfeller for his fifth Champions League goal of the season.
Madrid’s pressure was virtually unrelenting in the opening stages and Ronaldo twice went close with well-struck long-range efforts, firstly forcing Weidenfeller into ascrambling save after a fast break and then demanding an excellent tip over the bar from the visiting keeper with a viciously dipping free-kick.
A second goal looked just a matter of time, and so it proved as Xabi Alonso won possession on the edge of Dortmund’s box and fed Isco, who squeezed a low shot inside the left upright.
Weidenfeller was forced into another spectacular save to deny Bale from a free-kick, before Dortmund finally registered their first serious attack after 32 minutes as Marco Reus’ low shot was easily saved by Iker Casillas.
The German side then went on to enjoy a strong finish to the opening period, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan fashioning a decent chance which Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang curled well over the top.
The second half started in a similar fashion to the first, as Bale burst inside from the right wing to force Weidenfeller into a smart save with his right foot.
In an extremely open and at times frantic passage of play, Dortmund fought back and created their best chance yet when the ever-dangerous Reus drove into heart of Madrid’s defence before finding Aubameyang, who shot wide across the face of goal when he should have hit the target.
The chances continued to flow as Ronaldo surged down the right wing and reached the byline to cut back a low cross to Benzema, but Sokratis Papastathopoulos did miraculously to clear the ball over his own crossbar under heavy pressure from the French striker.
Reus soon led another break for Dortmund, resulting in Aubameyang finding Mkhitaryan whose shot was deflected wide.
And the hosts then took full charge of the tie as Luka Modric drifted through the midfield to release Ronaldo, who controlled in full stride and classily rounded Weidenfeller before stroking home a left-footed shot for his record-equalling goal.
Dortmund still weren’t finished and the excellent Pepe made a great defensive block to deny Mkhitaryan, before Weidenfeller made a superb reflex save to tip over a stunning half-volley from Benzema after Carvajal’s cross.
Bale came close to a sensational fourth after powerfully running 60 yards with the ball glued to his feet before finishing by blazing disappointingly over the bar, but Madrid already had more than enough.
