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12 April 2018

Real Madrid 1-3 Juventus (Agg: 4-3): Last gasp Cristiano Ronaldo (90+7) penalty spoils Italian giants' incredible fightback



Real Madrid 1-3 Juventus (Agg: 4-3): Last gasp Cristiano Ronaldo penalty spoils Italian giants' incredible fightback as Gianluigi Buffon sees red

  • Cristiano Ronaldo scored a last minute penalty to send Real Madrid into Champions League semi-finals
  • Medhi Benatia shoved Lucas Vasquez over in the box and Gianluigi Buffon was sent off in the aftermath
  • Juventus had wiped out the defending champions' first leg lead inside the space of an hour at the Bernabeu 
  • Mario Mandzukic gave Juventus an early lifeline after heading beyond Keylor Navas in the second minute
  • The Croatian striker then doubled the visitors' advantage with a header from Stephan Lichtsteiner's cross
  • Blaise Matuidi sensationally levelled the tie for Juventus after a horror mistake from goalkeeper Navas
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Juventus were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid despite an incredible victory at the Bernabeu.
Comebacks can be contagious and whatever Barcelona and Roma had on Tuesday, Madrid and Juventus had a serious dose of it 24-hours later.
This time the patient survived. Lucas Vazqeuz was put through by Toni Kroos and when Medhi Benatia brought him down two minutes from time English referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot and sent the protesting keeper Gianluigi Buffon off. 
Gianluigi Buffon is awarded a red card by referee Michael Oliver for complaining at the awarding of a stoppage time penalty
Gianluigi Buffon is awarded a red card by referee Michael Oliver for complaining at the awarding of a stoppage time penalty
Blaise Matuidi bundles home from close range to bring the aggregate scores level at 3-3 on the hour mark on Wednesday
Blaise Matuidi bundles home from close range to bring the aggregate scores level at 3-3 on the hour mark on Wednesday
Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas fumbled at the ball and deflected it into the path of the Juventus midfielder
Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas fumbled at the ball and deflected it into the path of the Juventus midfielder
Matuidi celebrates in front of the stunned Real Madrid fans as Juventus grabbed their third goal of the night to draw level
Matuidi celebrates in front of the stunned Real Madrid fans as Juventus grabbed their third goal of the night to draw level
Veteran goalkeeper and Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon roars in celebration after Matuidi's goal for the visitors
Veteran goalkeeper and Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon roars in celebration after Matuidi's goal for the visitors
Mario Mandzukic powers a header into the back of the net at the near post from Stephan Lichtsteiner's cross to make it 2-0
Mario Mandzukic powers a header into the back of the net at the near post from Stephan Lichtsteiner's cross to make it 2-0
Mandzukic celebrates after his header shaved the deficit to just one goal shortly before half-time at the Bernabeu
Mandzukic celebrates after his header shaved the deficit to just one goal shortly before half-time at the Bernabeu
Mario Mandzukic heads beyond the despairing dive of Keylor Navas to hand Juventus a second minute lead at the Bernabeu
Mario Mandzukic heads beyond the despairing dive of Keylor Navas to hand Juventus a second minute lead at the Bernabeu
Gonzalo Higuain rushes to congratulate his team-mate after grabbing the ball for a quick re-start on Wednesday night
Gonzalo Higuain rushes to congratulate his team-mate after grabbing the ball for a quick re-start on Wednesday night

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND MATCH ZONE 

Real Madrid: Navas, Carvajal, Varane, Vallejo, Marcelo, Casemiro (Lucas 45), Modric (Kovacic 75), Kroos, Isco, Ronaldo, Bale (Asensio 45)
Subs not used: Casilla, Benzema, Hernandez, Llorente
Booked: Carvajal, Marcelo
Goalscorers: Ronaldo 90+8 
Juventus: Buffon, De Sciglio (Lichtsteiner 17), Benatia, Chiellini, Alex Sandro, Khedira, Pjanic, Matuidi, Douglas Costa, Higuain (Szczesny 90+6), Mandzukic
Subs not used: Cuadrado, Marchisio, Asamoah, Rugani, Sturaro
Goalscorers: Mandzukic 2, 37, Matuidi 60
Booked: Lichtsteiner, Pjanic, Mandzukic, Sandro, Costa, Benatia
Sent off: Buffon
Referee: Michael OliverThe legendary keeper was given a standing ovation as he went. Wojciech Szczesny came on and Ronaldo put the penalty past him to send Real Madrid into the semi-finals and Juventus out.
Ronaldo said: 'You have to fight to the finish in football. It was a penalty. I don't know why they were protesting. Benatia kicked a lot from behind tonight. That is the way he plays. It was a spot kick.
'It was difficult but we are through to the semi-finals. We were not great in the first half but this will be a lesson to us.'
It was the cruelest of curtain calls for Buffon in possibly his last ever Champions League appearance. It was also just typical of Ronaldo to have the last word.
Madrid had been so rattled at the start of the game that they could have been 3-0 down after seven minutes.
As it was, it was only one. Douglas Costa combined with Sami Khedira and Mario Mandzukic scored at the back post in the second minute.
Gonazalo Higuain then had a shot cut out by Jesus Vallejo and a second effort from close range saved by Keylor Navas. The former Real Madrid forward could have made the nightmare start even worse for his old club.
The recalled Gareth Bale is denied by Gianluigi Buffon as Real Madrid look to get back into the match after Juve's early strike
The recalled Gareth Bale is denied by Gianluigi Buffon as Real Madrid look to get back into the match after Juve's early strike
Real Madrid No 1 Keylor Navas is at full stretch to dive and palm the ball away as it is directed goalwards early in the match
Real Madrid No 1 Keylor Navas is at full stretch to dive and palm the ball away as it is directed goalwards early in the match
Juventus defender Mattia de Sciglio looks to ward off the attentions of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo by the touchline
Juventus defender Mattia de Sciglio looks to ward off the attentions of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo by the touchline
Cristiano Ronaldo appeals for a decision from the referee as Juventus forward Douglas Costa claps behind him
Cristiano Ronaldo appeals for a decision from the referee as Juventus forward Douglas Costa claps behind him
Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane slides in and wins the ball from the toes of Juventus winger Douglas Costa
Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane slides in and wins the ball from the toes of Juventus winger Douglas Costa
The ball bounces loose from Juventus strike pairing Mario Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain as Jesus Vallejo watches on
The ball bounces loose from Juventus strike pairing Mario Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain as Jesus Vallejo watches on
Gonzalo Higuain has his head in his hands on his return to the Bernabeu as a chance goes begging for the visitors
Gonzalo Higuain has his head in his hands on his return to the Bernabeu as a chance goes begging for the visitors
Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi rises highest to head the ball away ahead of opposite number Casemiro in the first-half
Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi rises highest to head the ball away ahead of opposite number Casemiro in the first-half
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is sent flying into the air after a challenge from Juventus defender Medhi Benatia
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is sent flying into the air after a challenge from Juventus defender Medhi Benatia
With Sergio Ramos suspended Madrid had 21-year-old Vallejo and Raphael Varane bumping into each other in the centre of their defence. Juventus were showing the same spirit of Wembley that saw them turn Tottenham over. But could it last?
Gareth Bale had a shot saved by Buffon and he back-heeled the rebound into the side-netting. Isco then had a goal ruled out for offside.
Madrid were now enjoying the anarchy with Isco influential. Ronaldo – who had nutmegged Mattia De Sciglio inside the first 30 seconds – tried the same on Benatia and was flattened.
Stephan Lichtsteiner was the next to foul the Portuguese playing his 150th Champions League game. The substitute had come on for De Sciglio and Ronaldo lost his boot in the clash.
Lichsteiner went into Oliver's book for his next foul on Ronaldo. He was proving a liability at the back but on 38 minutes he appeared at the other end and made the second goal with a cross to the back post that Mandzukic converted.
Buffon jumped up and down in his area to celebrate and raised a fist to Juventus supporters as he walked off at half time. One more goal and Juventus would be level. 
Real Madrid playmaker Isco looks to shield the ball from Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic during the second-leg contest
Real Madrid playmaker Isco looks to shield the ball from Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic during the second-leg contest
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo attempts to get a shot off at goal but miscues his effort in a crowded penalty area
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo attempts to get a shot off at goal but miscues his effort in a crowded penalty area
Juventus were forced into an early substitution as Stephan Lichtsteiner came on to replace Mattia De Sciglio
Juventus were forced into an early substitution as Stephan Lichtsteiner came on to replace Mattia De Sciglio
Miralem Pjanic gestures towards referee Michael Oliver after Juventus team-mate Stephan Lichtsteiner took a blow
Miralem Pjanic gestures towards referee Michael Oliver after Juventus team-mate Stephan Lichtsteiner took a blow
Madrid had almost scored just before the break when Raphael Varane headed on to the bar but Zidane had seen enough and sent Vazquez and Marco Asensio to warm-up at half time.
The substitutions were made and the axe fell on Bale. He had been no worse than his team-mates but once again he was not given the benefit of the doubt by his coach. Casemiro was also taken off as Madrid tried to change the narrative.
It did not change.
On the hour Juventus were level on the night. Navas failed to gather and Blaise Matuidi turned the ball over the line to complete Juventus' incredible comeback.
Again no-one celebrated the goal more than Buffon. This was supposed to be his final Champions League game but neither he nor Juventus were going quietly.
Marcelo fed Isco and the midfielder's shot looked destined for the far corner but perhaps the greatest goalkeeper to never win the Champions League sprang to his right to turn the ball round the post.
Madrid now knew that another Juventus goal would leave them needing two. It was a dilemma and Zidane brought Mateo Kovacic on to try to keep the ball better in midfield. 
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo wanted a penalty after he tumbled over from a challenge by Medhi Benatia
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo wanted a penalty after he tumbled over from a challenge by Medhi Benatia
Ronaldo's protestations towards the referee fell on deaf ears as Real Madrid saw their lead reduced to one goal at half-time
Ronaldo's protestations towards the referee fell on deaf ears as Real Madrid saw their lead reduced to one goal at half-time
Ronaldo had a first-half to forget after his bicycle kick goal last week and even lost his left boot at one point in the first period
Ronaldo had a first-half to forget after his bicycle kick goal last week and even lost his left boot at one point in the first period
The home supporters had not come for a night of drama. This was supposed to be a procession into the semi-final and the chance to laugh together at Barcelona's fate the night before.
But they had seen Juventus' warriors climb a mountain to get themselves back into the tie and feared they would finish the job.
Ronaldo went close with five minutes left. Isco and Dani Carvajal combined well and the Champions League top scorer had to the chance to settle it but he put the opportunity over.
Madrid were now camped in Juventus' half and Ronaldo went down more in hope than expectation of getting any thing from referee Oliver.
Juventus had spent the first half betraying their tradition by flying forward with abandon but as the clock ticked down they had now reverted to type and there was no way through the massed yellow ranks for Real Madrid.
No way at least until Vazquez tried to wriggle clear and Ronaldo rammed in the resulting spot kick.
Raphael Varane's header on the stroke of half-time cannons off the crossbar as Real Madrid go in search of a vital goal
Raphael Varane's header on the stroke of half-time cannons off the crossbar as Real Madrid go in search of a vital goal
Buffon trudges off towards the tunnel after being sent off in what is likely to be his last ever Champions League appearance
Buffon trudges off towards the tunnel after being sent off in what is likely to be his last ever Champions League appearance


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5604695/Real-Madrid-1-3-Juventus-Agg-4-3-Ronaldo-penalty-saves-hosts.html#ixzz5COsWOHlY
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