Real Madrid recorded a memorable victory over Bayern Munich to progress to their 7th consecutive UEFA Champions League semi-finals, albeit in controversial fashion. With the game evenly poised, Arturo Vidal was sent off in the closing stages of the game for a legitimate tackle on Marco Asensio.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who had already scored once, added two more to his tally in extra-time against 10-men Bayern Munich, however, both of his goals were offside. Ronaldo, Real Madrid and their fans would not complain but Bayern Munich would feel they have been robbed of an opportunity to compete with the reigning champions on level terms because of some highly incompetent refereeing from Viktor Kassai and his assistants.
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Here are the best and worst players from the game:
Honourable Mentions:
Best – Manuel Neuer
If Bayern Munich had a chance in the second leg to make a comeback against Real Madrid, it was down to some extraordinary goalkeeping from Neuer to deny Ronaldo and company in the first leg at Allianz Arena.
The German shot-stopper did concede 6 goals over the course of the two-legged tie but the scoreline could have been much worse had the 31-year-old not been at his best. He could not have done much to stop the goals that went in but he absolutely did his best to save the ones that he could – including that superhuman save to deny Ronaldo in Bavaria.
Worst – The referees
To say that Real Madrid played with 12-men would be taking away sheen from what was undoubtedly a heroic performance. Zinedine Zidane’s side went toe-to-toe with Carlo Ancelotti’s men during the course of the two games – at least when the two teams were on a level playing field, i.e. with 11-men each.
Referee Viktor Kassai and his team got a host of decisions incorrect in the second-leg of the historic tie alone, which started with an incorrect offside call when Robert Lewandowski burst through on goal. It was followed by Kassai’s inability to give Casemiro his marching orders for a second bookable offence when he fouled Arjen Robben.
The referee, then bizarrely, decided to send Vidal off for a perfect challenge on Marco Asensio and tilt the momentum in Madrid’s favour, and all of this was just in regulation time. In added time, Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to put the tie to bed, however, the Portuguese was offside on both occasions and the assistant didn’t spot either of them.
Also Read: Twitter explodes as shambolic refereeing robs Bayern Munich against Real Madrid
Best – Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben did what he does best, cut back inside from the right and create problems for the defenders. The former Real Madrid man was at his sensational best for the better part of the game as he won the penalty – which was converted by Robert Lewandowski – after he was fouled inside the box by Casemiro, who found the Dutchman’s pace too hot to handle.
The 33-year-old got the better of the Real Madrid defenders on more occasions than once and definitely didn’t deserve to be on the losing side. He almost set up Arturo Vidal with a perfectly-weighted chipped ball into the box, only for the Chilean to blast it over from 6-yards out.
Worst – Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso is one of the most decorated Spaniards of all-time and a legend in the truest sense of the word. However, playing in what turned out to be his last UEFA Champions League game – as he has already announced he will be retiring at the end of the season – the former Real Madrid man was below average and his decision to call it quits at the end of the season was vindicated.
He is still the calm and collected presence in the middle of the park but age has caught up with him and he was dispossed and outpaced by Real Madrid players on numerous occasions.
Best – Marcelo
Marcelo was arguably Real Madrid’s best player on the night. Not only did the Brazilian discharge his defensive duties perfectly, he was a menace going forward and created a host of chances for his side. The display by the Brazilian was arguably the best of his career and certainly one of, if not the best, performances by a left-back in the Champions League.
Marcelo outpaced and outmuscled Philipp Lahm on several occasions before swinging in venomous crosses into the box for his teammates. Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo’s third goal was all about the Brazilian and his pace and trickery as he bombed forward from the middle of the park, evading challenges from Bayern players before he was one-on-one with Neuer, when he calmly squared the ball for Ronaldo to complete his hat-trick.
Worst – Arturo Vidal
Having already let his team down in the first-leg, when he blasted his penalty over Keylor Navas’ goal – a moment that proved pivotal in the first-leg as it allowed Madrid to claw back into the game – the Chilean picked up a yellow card in the early exchanges of the game.
Not only did that yellow card restrict his ability to challenge for the ball more often, it proved to be the sucker punch as the 29-year-old was eventually sent off for a legitimate challenge. However, had he not been on a booking already, he could have allowed his team to compete with Real Madrid on a level playing field – a scenario which was of advantage to the Bavarians, who had bossed the tie when 11-men.
Further to that, Vidal’s penchant for the extraordinary saw him miss a chance from close range after being beautifully set up by Robben with an excellent chipped ball. The Chilean tried to scissor-kick the pass past Navas and ended up hitting it over the goal, when he could have just guided it home.
Best – Cristiano Ronaldo
There is no denying that Cristiano Ronaldo benefitted from some absolutely shambolic refereeing during the game but that doesn’t take anything away from the Portuguese – who was head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch.
With Bayern leading 1-0 in the second leg and looking good to add to their tally, Ronaldo headed home a Casemiro cross to bring his side on level terms. The 31-year-old completed the perfect hat-trick in extra-time when he first beat Neuer with a left-footed finish to put Madrid ahead before scoring from his right into an empty net after being setup brilliantly by the marauding Marcelo.
There have been questions asked about the 4-time Ballon d'Or winners form in recent months but he silenced his critics in style as he netted 5 goals against the German champions over two legs, en route to becoming the first player in history to score 100 Champions League goals. Ronaldo is a winner through and through and that is what he did against Bayern Munich, he helped his side win.
Also Read: Twitter goes wild as Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick helps Real Madrid eliminate Bayern Munich
