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Real Madrid got their UEFA Champions League campaign off to a great start, as they comfortably defeated APOEL by a 3-0 scoreline to ensure they went top of Group H, with Tottenham, Dortmund and APOEL following them.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 12 minutes into his return, although APOEL ensured it was a dull first half. Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot in the 51st minute before Sergio Ramos ended the contest with a well-taken goal in the 61st minute.
Here are the major talking points from the game:
#1 Madrid's defenders are more than just destroyers
A large part of the reason Madrid have been so dominant in the last couple of seasons is the offensive output of their defenders. Tonight was no different.
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Dani Carvajal and Marcelo were a constant threat, especially in the second half, with their crosses into the box causing APOEL plenty of trouble as Ronaldo and Bale competed for headers in the centre.
However, it was Sergio Ramos who stole the show in the second half with a quite impressive goal. Beginning the move in Madrid's own half, the Spanish defender then produced a superb overhead kick to ensure all three points went to Los Blancos. His appetite for goals is incomparable and he will surely add to the 83 goals he's scored for club and country in this Champions League campaign.
Who's to say if it will be in injury time of the final?
#2 Injuries put a dampener on a promising night
"A pimple on his leg which means he cannot lift his sock."
The night began with probably the most bizarre cause to an injury this season, as Zidane revealed that Marco Asensio would miss the game due to a freak shaving accident causing an infected pimple on his leg. Married to the fact that Karim Benzema was also out injured, Zidane would have been hoping that his side would come through unharmed, but that was not to be.
The first half began with Madrid players falling like flies as Marcelo and Casemiro spent time nursing a couple of knocks. The saddest sight of the night however, belonged to Mateo Kovacic, who looked completely distraught as a rare start was disrupted with a worrying injury.
The Croat has looked a player reborn in the few minutes afforded to him this season, and one hopes that his injury is nothing more than a small niggle.
#3 APOEL will need to capitalize on home form
You could hardly blame APOEL for their tactics - they've managed deep runs into the Champions League knockout stages through defensive organization and graft before. However, top teams nowadays know how to get at least one scrappy goal in games like these without playing too well, as was proven tonight.
There was promise from APOEL though, as Carloa and Rueda looked supreme at the back, only for their fullbacks to let them down. Perhaps Giorgos Donis ought to opt for a more offensive style of play in Cyprus as the only way they can pull off finishing third in this group is with a shock win at home.
In Igor de Camargo, APOEL have a hard working striker who knows how to find the net, but the Brazilian was feeding on scraps tonight - a rethink is needed for the other group stage games.
#4 Ronaldo returns with a bang, alongside Bale
The records tumbled in another Champions League night, as Cristiano Ronaldo managed to score a brace in his first game back for Madrid since being sent off in the Supercopa de Espanya. Curiously enough, it was a relatively quiet, but efficient performance from the Portuguese superstar as he extended his Champions League scoring record.
To top it off, Ronaldo went past Messi in a couple of other races too - what a night!
In contrast to Ronaldo's night, Gareth Bale was heavily involved, getting plenty of joy down Madrid's left, but the Welshman ended the night without credit from the supporters at the Bernabeu despite setting up two goals.
Thankfully, Bale has the support of his manager, but the Welshman ought to wonder if he can turn his career in Spain around if he becomes a bit more selfish, like his illustrious teammate.
#5 La decimotercera depends on Zidane's team-talks
Zinedine Zidane's reputation as a manager continues to grow, and for regular watchers of Madrid, tonight was the perfect encapsulation. Madrid came into the game with the Spanish press sniffing a potential crisis, as two consecutive draws handed Barcelona an advantage in La Liga.
APOEL did not make it easy as Madrid struggled to get out of first gear in the first half. The players could very well have gone into the break with the scores level had the Cypriots been a bit more efficient in the box.
As soon as the second half began though, Madrid looked a completely different animal, taking the game to the visitors and forcing plenty of errors in their own half. Zidane's ability to inspire a better performance from his charges in the second 45 proved crucial in previous Champions League triumphs (see: Bayern Munich) and if a historic La decimotercera is to become a reality, Zidane will need to pull off his magic yet again.
