Cristiano Ronaldo struck a dramatic injury-time penalty to deny Juventus an incredible comeback and send two-time-successive holders Real Madrid through to the Champions League’s semi-finals.
Los Blancos’s commanding 3-0 lead from last week’s first leg in Turin disappeared by 60 minutes. Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic produced two first-half headers and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi took advantage of goalkeeper Keylor Navas’ fumble.
Extra time seemed imminent before English referee Michael Oliver adjudged that Morocco centre-back Medhi Benatia had brought down substitute Lucas Vazquez in the box.
With legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon duly dismissed for dissent, Ronaldo stepped up in the 97th minute to lash in his decisive 15th European goal of the campaign.
YOU CANNOT CONTAIN CRISTIANO
If any more evidence was required of Ronaldo’s eternal greatness, his contributions to this incredible two-legged tie ends the debate.
In Turin, the Portugal forward’s early tap-in and staggering bicycle kick spurred talk he’d conjured the sport’s finest goal.
This time on home soil, he was not a ubiquitous presence. His five shots before injury time barely forced Buffon to strain as Madrid stared a shameful exit in the face, while six of his team-mates had more touches than his 50.
But you knew from the moment Oliver pointed to the spot he wouldn’t miss.
Madrid’s record goal scorer was calmness personified as he slammed in his 447th effort in royal white as the eyes of the world provided inspiration, rather than fear.
A special talent had decided an unforgettable contest.
15 - 15 or more goals in a single Champions League campaign:
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) April 11, 2018
Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013/14 (17)
Cristiano Ronaldo in 2015/16 (16)
Cristiano Ronaldo in 2017/18 (15).
Saviour.
REAL DRAMA DEFINES EPIC TIE
High drama to equal the greatest scripts produced by Hollywood was present at Santiago Bernabeu.
Juventus were utterly superb for 92 minutes of intense action in the Spanish capital as they chased down an impossible 3-0 deficit.
Fueled by the superb Sami Khedira, Miralem Pjanic and – the scorer of the crucial third – Matuidi in the engine room, they were prepared to bomb on and leave gaps in search of goals.
This bold approach – a world away from June’s meek loss to the same opponents in the final – appeared to have gifted them a lifeline until the epic scenes of second-half injury time.
Benatia’s push and kick felled Vazquez for his team’s critical first misstep, matinee idol Buffon was dismissed for dissent on potentially his final European outing and Ronaldo obliged with the coup de grace for the helpless hosts.
On the 199 previous occasions the away team won the first leg of a European tie 3-0, they progressed. Somehow, this statistic stretched to 200.
2 - Real Madrid are trailing by two goals at half-time in a #UCL home game for the first time since February 2000 (1-3 vs Bayern Munich). Upset. #RMAJUV
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 11, 2018
SUPER MARIO STRIKES
Los Blancos bring something special out in Mandzukic.
Their regular tormentor when representing city rivals Atletico Madrid repeated the trick in a monumental first half for the Bianconeri and their tactically astute head coach Massimiliano Allegri.
The gangly Croatia forward’s pair of towering headers – which left right-back Dani Carvajal brutally exposed – moved him onto five career goals against the 12-time European kings.
History was also made twice over. His opener clocked at 76 seconds was the quickest one conceded by Madrid on the hallowed soil of Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League, plus he also became the first visiting player in the competition’s history to score twice there before half-time.
Statistics aside, it gave Juve that great intangible – hope.
Gabriel Jesus also struck in the second minute for Manchester City in their salvage job against Liverpool, but momentum soon dissipated as a vital second didn’t follow.
Mandzukic made sure the Old Lady didn’t fade away.
76 - Mario Mandzukic's goal after 76 seconds is the fastest Real Madrid have ever conceded at home in the Champions League. Super. #RMAJUV
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 11, 2018
