Cristiano Ronaldo equalled Lionel Messi’s record of 14 goals in one Champions League season as Real Madrid demolished Dortmund, almost assuring themselves a fourth successive semi-final appearance.
The Portuguese forward was not at his best but he had buried the all-important third goal in
the second half and when he hobbled off with half an hour left the
Bernabeu rose as one to salute him.
In his 100th Champions League game he also matched Alfredo Di
Stefano’s haul of 49 goals in the European Cup.
And he was ably assisted
by Gareth Bale who scored the first and ran Jurgen Klopp’s side ragged
on a fast wet pitch.
Cool finish: Gareth Bale slots the ball past Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller for opening goal
Match facts
Real Madrid: Casillas, Carvajal, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Coentrao, Modric, Alonso, Isco (Illarramendi 71), Bale, Benzema (Morata 75),
Ronaldo (Casemiro 80).
Subs Not Used: Diego Lopez,Varane, Nacho, Jose Rodriguez.
Goals: Bale 3, Isco 27, Ronaldo 57.
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller, Piszczek (Schieber 67), Hummels, Papastathopoulos, Durm, Kehl (Jojic 74), Sahin, Grosskreutz,
Mkhitaryan (Hofmann 64), Reus, Aubameyang.
Subs Not Used: Langerak, Friedrich, Kirch, Duksch.
Booked: Reus,Kehl,Grosskreutz.
Att: 75,000
Ref: Mark Clattenburg (England).
Dortmund beat Real Madrid 4-3 on
aggregate in the semi-finals last season and Klopp had promised a
positive approach but the optimism lasted all of three minutes with Bale
scoring his 17th goal of the season to put the home side 1-0 up.
Karim Benzema chased down Erik Durm and fed Dani Carvajal and when the young right back played in Bale, he got away from Sokratis Papastathopoulos to poke his shot past Roman Weidenfeller.
After such a start he might have been forgiven for thinking he would be allowed to take the first free-kick of the game – no chance.
On 12 minutes, Madrid were awarded a set-piece 30 yards out but though the Welshman adopted his distinctive pre-strike pose, it was Ronaldo who shuffled up and blasted just over Weidenfeller’s bar.
The Dortmund keeper got a touch as the missile flew over and from the resulting corner, Marcos Reus mistakenly kicked him as he tried to clear Pepe’s effort on goal.
Reus then kicked Ronaldo and was booked for the challenge.
Impressive: Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo scores his 14th Champions League goal this season
Roar: Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his second-half strike against Dortmund
Impressive: Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo scores his 14th Champions League goal this season
Close call: Gareth Bale had another effort disallowed for offside
There was no chance of Real Madrid losing their heads. Another impressive feature of their Champions League campaign this season has been their low card count going into what should be the semi-final stage.
On 27 minutes Xabi Alonso fed Isco and he doubled their lead shooting through a crowd of yellow-shirted defenders and past an unsighted Weidenfeller. Isco lit up Malaga’s Champions League campaign last season with Manuel Pellegrini in charge. It was the Chilean coach who wanted to take him to Manchester City in the summer.
Bale was full of self-less running in midfield and he finally got his free-kick opportunity on the half hour when he won a free-kick and this time took the kick that Weidenfeller tipped over.
Quick fire: Bale turns away to celebrate after his early strike against Dortmund
White hot: Bale celebrates with team-mates Daniel Carvajal (left) and Xabi Alonso (centre)
Smashing: Tennis ace and Real Madrid fan Rafael Nadal watches the Champions League clash
Clinical: Real Madrid's Isco scores the second goal against Dortmund
Dortmund forced a rare
breakaway and Iker Casillas had to save down to his left from Kevin
Grosskreutz.
Pepe then barged Henrihk Mkhitaryan to ground in the
penalty area but English referee Mark Clattenburg waved away their appeals.
Real
were enjoying an easy night at the back with the suspended Robert Lewandowski busy looking at properties in Munich where he will be plying
his trade next season – he got four goals against Madrid last year and how
they missed him.
Bale produced a Cruyff-like turn to get away from Durm, bringing whoops from fans in the Bernabeu enjoying one of his best performances of the season.
Nice one: Goalscorer Isco is congratulated by Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring against Dortmund
Group hug: Real Madrid celebrate Isco's strike against Dortmund
Danger: Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo goes close with a free kick
Focused: Ronaldo tries his luck with a first-half volley
Dortmund had the best of the later
stages of the first half with Reus forcing a corner off Carvajal and
Ronaldo again being the man to head the ball clear but Carlo Ancelotti’s
side were in control and all that was missing was a goal from Ronaldo.
That would not be long in coming.
On 57 minutes, Luka Modric danced
his way through the heart of the Dortmund defence and fed Ronaldo, who
shot past Weidenfeller for his 49th Champions League goal.
He hobbled off with ten minutes to go with the applause of all four sides of the Bernabue ringing in his ears. He has scored in his last eight Champions League games and with him leading Real Madrid’s assault on Portugal next month it will take something stronger than a faded Dortmund to stop them.
Top effort: Bale's free kick had to be tipped over the bar by Dortmund keeper
Touch: Ronaldo stretches to control the ball against Dortmund
High jump: Bale challenges Dortmund defender Erik Durm
On the run: Gareth Bale takes on three Dortmund defenders
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