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#3 Ronaldo fails but Benzema shines
The Bayern defence locked down the 5-time Ballon d'Or winner once again tonight, keeping him goalless twice in as many games. Mats Hummels was still as cumbersome as he was during the first leg at the Allianz Arena, but Niklas Sule was up to the task of keeping Cristiano Ronaldo under wraps.
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The herculean German never allowed the Portuguese to get the better of him on the dribble and was physical enough to keep the Madrid No. 7 at bay. Sule was assisted by other Bayern players circling around Ronaldo to render him ineffective during set-pieces and cutting off open lanes when he was found in possession during open play
With that being said, the Portuguese had the goal at his mercy early on in the second half and he pulled off a blunder. Marcelo punted in an impeccable cross from the left flank in the 54th minute that was meant to meet Ronaldo at the far post, but the latter skied his volley from a few yards out. Los Blancos were leading 2-1 at that moment and the goal would have killed the tie there and then.
On the flip side of things, Karim Benzema, who has had so many naysayers calling him out on his incapacity to score goals, simply let his toil on the pitch do the talking. The Frenchman scored both the goals for the home side to propel them to a third consecutive UEFA Champions League final.
Benzema made an impact early on in the game when he caught the Bayern defence off guard from a Real free kick to produce a chance for Ronaldo which he eventually scuppered.
Marcelo did well to find him with a cross for Madrid's opener, but it was the movement of the Madrid No. 9 that allowed him to roam free in the Bayern box. He was also gifted a goal by Ulreich, but credit has to be given to the pressure he applied on Tolisso and the custodian.
Benzema stopped a few sneerily wagging tongues in criticism of him with his performance, all things considered.
