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 inform 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 which found the perfectly timed run of Ronaldo who fired past Buffon. The Portuguese ace with 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 strikers 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, 1-0 at the break.

The game really opened up in 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 goal mouth 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 stadium 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. 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 and tapped the ball into the empty net.

Madrid look on course to progress to the semi-finals after a dominant first leg performance as they look to win an unprecedented third consecutive Champions League title.

Photo: Andrea di Marco/Backpagepix