Cristiano Ronaldo, sporting his personalised Nike CR7 Superflys, won Real Madrid their 11th Champions League title after beating city rivals Atletico in Milan. Ronaldo scored the winning penalty, after Sergio Ramos’ first-half goal had been cancelled out by Yannick Carrasco’s late strike, forcing the match into extra-time.
The San Siro has not been a happy hunting ground for Real in the past, having not won there in the last 14 attempts. However, Saturday night proved to go against all omens.
Ramos put the Galacticos ahead in controversial style when a Gareth Bale flick on at the near post fell to the Spaniard. He looked to be offside, but a slight touch was enough to deceive the keeper and scramble home from close-range, and the goal was given.
Atletico struggled in the first half, with pot shots from distance their only chances of real note. However, it was a different story after the break. A rash challenge on ex-Premier League striker Fernando Torres, from Mr Rash himself, Pepe, resulted in a penalty.
Antoine Griezmann stepped up confidently but saw his powerful effort rebound off the crossbar and back into play. It did not deter Atletico though, and they pushed on hard in the second half.
Eventually, they got what they deserved when late on, a Juanfran cross found substitute Carrasco who couldn’t miss from inside the six-yard box taking the final into extra time as it had done two years ago.
Neither team could find the net in an extra period that portrayed only tiredness of epic proportions, with at least 20 players on the pitch suffering from severe cases of cramp. It seemed destined to go to penalties, and so it did.
Lucas Vazquez, Griezmann Marcelo, Gabi, Gareth Bale, Saul Niguez and Ramos all dispatched their penalties in an impressive manner, making it 4-3 to Madrid.
Juanfran then nervously approached the spot to take Atletico’s fourth spot-kick, and try to level the shootout. However, the full-back rattled his effort against the left post of Keylor Navas’ goal. A devastated and shocked Juanfran slowly wondered back to the half-way line, as Ronaldo began his potential ascent into the history books.
An impossibly confident Ronaldo poised himself ready to take the crucial penalty, striking his signature pose as if playing up for the world’s media, knowing that a successful penalty would secure his side yet another Champions League win.
Christiano Ronaldo powerfully descended onto the ball and effortlessly struck it into the right-hand corner, finding the sweet spot of his unique Nike CR7 Mercurial Superflys.
Real had won on penalties, and what followed were scenes of jubilation, led by a quickly-shirtless Ronaldo.
Welsh prodigy Bale put in an excellent performance ahead of his trip to France for the Euros. Ramos, Casemiro and Jan Oblak also put in performances of note.
Ronaldo will undoubtedly have one or two heavy nights ahead of him following his antics last night. However, the striker will quickly have to get back in the right frame of mind, as he and his Nike CR7 Mercurial Superflys are set to meet up with Portugal for their preparations for the European Championships, in the next week.
