Madrid Punish Bayern 2-1, Ronaldo reaches 100 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo reached 100 goals in European football as Bayern Munich rued a missed penalty and a red card in a 2-1 loss to Real Madrid.

Bayern, unbeaten at home for over a year going into the tie, started well when Arturo Vidal powered a header past Keylor Navas from a corner.

Real created little in the first-half but they were level just a couple of minutes into the second-half when Ronaldo volleyed home a cross from Dani Carvajal.

Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with teammatesAFP

The turning point for the game came when Javi Martinez was shown two yellow cards in just a few minutes and was rightly shown his marching orders.

This was the catalyst for some intense Real pressure and only a couple of magnificent saves from Manuel Neuer kept the scores level.

However Ronaldo was not to be denied and he poked home following a good cross from the impressive Marco Asensio.

TALKING POINT

Ronaldo still the man for the big occasion. A lot of criticism has been levelled at Ronaldo this season, some fair some not so. There can be no denying that nowadays he really doesn’t contribute much to the overall team performance. He’s not as quick as he was, he’s not even as sharp with the ball at his feet. Yet there can be equally no denying that when a big goal is needed he can still step up. His 99th and 100th European goals have put Real in the driving seat and he comes alive in the penalty area. Even at 32 he’s still one of the biggest goal threats the game has ever seen.

Ronaldo – Bayern-Real MadridAFP

MAN OF THE MATCH

Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) If it wasn’t for Neuer Bayern would already be dead and buried. Perhaps he could have done a bit better with Ronaldo’s second but it was an excellent finish from the Portuguese. Besides, Neuer made two genuinely world-class saves. In the first half he flung himself into the air to tip Benzema‘s header onto the bar and in the second he produced something extraordinary to stop Ronaldo. The Real man found space in the box and smashed it from close range but Neuer stuck out a wrist at the last minute and made the save. In a season where Neuer’s status as the best keeper in the world has been questioned this was a timely reminder of just how good he is.

Manuel Neuer makes a save from Cristiano Ronaldo.AFP

PLAYER RATINGS

Bayern Munich – Neuer 8, Lahm 7, Martinez 4, Boateng 5, Alaba 5, Thiago 6, Alonso 5, Vidal 6, Robben 7, Ribery 5, Muller 5. Subs – Bernat 5, Costa 5, Coman 5.

Real Madrid – Navas 5, Carvajal 7, Ramos 6, Nacho 5, Marcelo 6, Casemiro 6, Kroos 5, Modric 6, Bale 5, Benzema 4, Ronaldo 8. Subs – Asensio 7, James 5, Kovacic 5.

KEY MOMENTS

18′ – BAR! That’s a terrific save from Manuel Neuer! Kroos is given way too much time to pick a cross and he gets it on Benzema’s head. The ball bounces down and is looping into the top corner before Neuer gets the faintest of touches to tip it onto the woodwork. He gets lucky and is able to gather the re-bound.

25′ – GOAL! BAYERN 1-0 REAL (VIDAL) Oh what a header that is! The first corner is played short and eventually a Ribery volley is headed away and then Marcelo is forced to put it behind. The second corner is met by a thumping header from Vidal and Navas has no chance.

45+1′ – MISSED PENALTY! That’s terribe from the goalscorer as Vidal smashes the ball miles over. Real will think justice has been done. That is honestly terrible.

Bayern Munich’s Chilian midfielder Arturo Vidal reacts after missing a penaltyAFP

47′ – GOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 1-1 REAL MADRID (RONALDO) Within minutes Real Madrid are back in it. Casemiro spreads it wide to Carvajal. He cuts it back to the penalty spot and Ronaldo volleys past Neuer. Game on!

61′ – RED CARD! JAVI MARTINEZ That’s rash, that’s really rash from Martinez. As Ronaldo goes bursting away from him he catches the forward and that is his second yellow. Less than three minutes between the two cards. Big problems for Bayern.

75′ – HOW HAVE YOU KEPT THAT OUT NEUER?! How on earth has he saved that. Benzema holds the ball up really well and squares it to Ronaldo. He slams it from close range and Neuer just sticks out a massive hand and makes the save. That was remarkable.

77′ – GOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 1-2 REAL MADRID (RONALDO) Finally Real get the second breakthrough. Asensio plays a wonderful ball over the defence and round to Ronaldo and he pokes it through Neuer.