Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Real Madrid to a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Juventus in their Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash on Tuesday evening at the Juventus Stadium, writes DEAN WORKMAN.

Just as in last season’s final between the same two teams, Los Blancos got off to the perfect start. It was the in-form Ronaldo who gave his side the lead with just three minutes gone. Marcelo slid the ball through to Isco down the left, he cut a cross back to find the perfectly timed run of Ronaldo who fired past Gianluigi Buffon. The Portuguese ace scored his 13th Champions League goal of the season, silencing the home crowd.

The Italians went in search for a quick response. After several half chances were well defended by Zinedine Zidane’s team, Gonzalo Higuaín went close to equalising. Paulo Dybala whipped in a free kick which was met by his compatriot, but the striker’s bullet header was spectacularly saved by Keylor Navas in the Madrid goal.

After taking the early lead, Madrid were disappointing with Juve certainly the better of the two team, although it remained 1-0 at the break.

The game really opened up in the second half as both teams pushed for the all-important second half.

Massimiliano Allegri’s team may have looked threatening, but it was that man Ronaldo who again made the telling impact. After a goalmouth scramble, the ball was cleared out to Daniel Carvajal who whipped in a devilish cross. What happened next shocked the entire stadium. The ball floated towards Ronaldo who steadied himself and produced an outrageous bicycle kick, smashing the ball into the top corner, 2-0 to Zidane’s men after sixty-four minutes as the crowd all stood as one to applaud a goal which will go down in Champions League history.

Things went from bad to worse for the Italians when Dybala was sent off for a second bookable offence, which left Juve in real trouble, down to ten men after sixty-six minutes.

Then on seventy-two minutes the game, and probably the tie, was ended by Marcelo. The Brazilian played a one-two with Ronaldo, which sent him through on goal. He then flicked the ball over Buffon as he charged off his line, for a simple tap-in.

After a dominant first-leg performance Madrid look set for a place in the semi-finals and are on course to win an unprecedented third consecutive Champions League title.

Photo: Andrea di Marco/Backpagepix