Cristiano Ronaldo has yet again highlighted his importance to the Real Madrid team after his hat-trick against Wolfsburg sent them through to the Champions League semi-finals; overturning their 2-0 deficit from the first leg.
Manager, and former Champions League winner with the Spaniards, Zinedine Zidane was under immense pressure prior to Tuesday night’s game. The league is probably just out of sight, plus their unfortunate early exit from the Copa Del Rey courtesy of a calamitous admin error meant that Europe was their last realistic hope for silverware this season.
Two early goals from Ricardo Rodrigues and Max Arnold had given the Germans a decent lead to take to the Bernabeu last week. If they managed to score just once on the night, Madrid would have had to score four due to the away goal rule.
The Germans started poorly though as Real had serious intent in their game. Ronaldo opened the scoring after 16 minutes when a cross was fortuitously deflected into his path. His first time finish from close-range found the net. Game on!
Just one minute late, Madrid won back the ball from kick-off and forced a corner. As a powerfully whipped in-swinger was delivered, the Portuguese forward rose to glance a header powerfully into the corner of the net. If the Bernabeu wasn’t rocking before, it certainly was now.
At that point, many thought that the Galacticos could sweep away their opponents, who currently sit in ninth position in the Bundesliga. Despite more pressure from the home side, the visitors managed to go in at the break with just the two goals against their name.
The second-half followed the same pattern as the first. With wave after wave of Madrid attacks relentlessly battering a resilient defence.
At 2-0 though, that third Madrid goal which would have meant the tie avoided extra-time, continued to elude them. The home fans, who had been magnificent all game, were visually growing more and more nervous and noticeably quieter.
However, with just 13 minutes remaining of the game, Wolfsburg gave away a free-kick on the very edge of the penalty area. As he had done with a previous one which hit the wall, Ronaldo stepped up for the set piece.
After dragging out his trademark stance (arms out, shoulders back) for a good thirty seconds, almost playing to the crowd, adding tension to an already heavily intense scenario, Ronaldo struck the ball. His powerful side-foot exploited a questionable gap in the wall and found the bottom corner.
The celebration that followed, a mixture of relief, sheer delight and of course a little bit of arrogance, epitomised what that goal meant to the Portuguese and his teammates.
Real held on for the remainder of the match to secured a place in the last four of Europe’s most prestigious competition.
Ronaldo was wearing his own Nike Mercurial Superfly CR7 boots in a faded dark blue/black colour. The flyknit collar and revolutionary stud-layout makes this boot truly unique and exceptionally good. So why not get yourself a pair today?
