In focus: Cristiano Ronaldo v Antoine Griezmann

Basic stats

Ronaldo

Goals – 3

Shots – 4

Dribbles – 3

Pass success – 85%

Chances created – 2

Dispossessed – 1

Griezmann

Goals – 0

Shots – 0

Dribbles – 0

Pass success – 80%

Chances created – 1

Dispossessed – 3

Effectiveness

Ronaldo

There are few players in world football who will not just shoulder the responsibility of leading their side in the big games, but embrace it.

The 32-year-old was simply different class. A physical machine and a devastating finisher with a 42nd hat-trick for Real a testament to that.

But the Portuguese was far more than just his predatory instincts against Atletico, even at this stage in his career his work rate all night was phenomenal.

He was aggressive on the counter-attack pinning back a terrified Lucas Hernandez and his positioning, which is seriously underrated, was world class.

You can criticise Atletico’s lapses in concentration to let him find the space but there’s a reason he’s always in the right place to score and it’s because of the way he lurks, always ready to pounce.

Griezmann

Griezmann was a ghost. In the first half he received the ball 13 times as he struggled to manufacture any space to work in behind Real.

The 26-year-old was busy whenever Ateltico pushed forward but the visitor’s were too one paced and predictable and it meant he couldn’t pick up any good positions.

As the game wore on he dropped deeper and deeper into midfield to try and find the ball only to be confronted by the utterly supreme Toni Kroos.

Where one No7 carried his side’s attacking threat, the other was simply carried through this game.

Key moments

Ronaldo

10th min: Few things are finer than a Ronaldo header. He appeared to be offside in the initial build-up but when the ball fell to Casmeiro his awkward cross into the ground was pounced on by Ronaldo who fearlessly leaped to head home.

73rd min: Nothing controversial about his second. Atletico just could not clear their lines and when Felipe Luis failed to completely intercept Karim Benzem’s pass, he manipulated his body to ensure he was well balanced to fire home a rocket from just inside the box.

85th min: Ronaldo delayed his run into the box, stayed alert and moved into action when it mattered as he found himself on the penalty spot with all the time in the world to set himself up and then fire his third after Lucas Vazquez’s cut-back on the right.

Griezmann

30th min: The only real sign of ingenuity from the France international manufactured Atletico’s only shot in the box. Griezmann clipped in a delightfully disguised free-kick as he shaped up to shoot but Diego Godin produced a centre-back’s finish as he fired well over.

60th min: In one of the few occasions he managed to manoeuvre himself into some space on the left side, he darted to the byline but substitute Fernando Torres was too static to pick up his whipped cross which trickles out of danger.

72 min: His miserable evening was perfectly encapsulated by Luka Modric nutmegging him.

Our verdict

Ronaldo

Brave, fearless and clinical – a vintage Ronaldo performance. It’s not just that he took centre-stage, it’s that he wanted to.

Whether for his ego or sheer will to win, he never hides and single-handedly he ripped apart one of the most stoic defences in European football.

It wasn’t just his hat-trick, or his ability, it was his wit and sharpness which impressed most.

Griezmann

The camera panning in on Griezmann after Ronaldo’s second goal was deliberately symbolic, as if to say the passing of the torch is not quite ready for a handover.

He fell victim of Atletico’s inability to break out of defence quick enough.

Ultimately, this wasn’t Atletico’s night and it certainly wasn’t Griezmann’s but there will be many in the future when it is.

Your verdict

All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com