Here are the goals and highlights from Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal. Cristiano Ronaldo finished with a hat trick.
Real Madrid seem to have secured their place in the 2017 Champions League final, unless something truly unexpected happens. With Ronaldo goals in the 10th, 73rd and 86th minute, the European champions and league leaders in the Spanish La Liga look every bit ready to become the first club since 1990 to repeat as European club champions, something that has never been done in the Champions League era.
Real Madrid enjoyed short period of dominance in the first and second half. In both of those spurts of excellence they ended up beating Jan Oblak and the surprisingly soft Atletico Madrid defense, and continue their streak of victories against their city rivals when it comes to European competitions.
Atletico Madrid, probably suffering from their worst season under Diego Simeone, didn’t really test Keylor Navas during the match, even during their good minutes, except for one chance. Kevin Gameiro found himself in a one on one with the recently criticized goalkeeper, but wasn’t quick enough on his feet to get past him. That would have given Atletico Madrid an away goal, and completely change the dynamic of the match.
Alas, for competitiveness sake, it didn’t happen, and Ronaldo showed incredible efficiency without really standing out the rest of the match. But criticizing him for not being involved while he’s setting the scoring record books at club, league and continent on fire is useless. He’s hungry for a third champions league trophy with Los Blancos and 4th in his career.
