IN SPORT.ES
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid took another step towards their target of becoming the first team in the modern era to retain the Champions League.
Only Madrid have knocked city rivals Atletico out of Europe in the last three seasons and history looks set to repeat itself after Zinedine Zidane’s side racked up a 3-0 semifinal first leg win at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico will have the chance to turn things around next week at the Vicente Calderon, but in reality their Champions League hopes look over for another season.
Beaten in two of the last three finals by Madrid — and in the quarterfinal in the middle of those two finals — it looked like Atletico had re-found their old inferiority complex here.
Until Simeone’s arrival it had been years since they’d bettered their neighbours, but the Argentine’s appointment signalled a more competitive Madrid derby.
However, it has not proved competitive in the Champions League, and Madrid are now odds on to advance to a third final in four years, where they will meet either Juventus or Monaco.
Madrid were the far better side in the first half and deservedly led through Ronaldo’s header. There was a hint of offside in the move before the goal, but the Portuguese forward was deemed not to be interfering with play.
Atletico improved after the break as Madrid’s intensity dropped, but they were unable to trouble Keylor Navas.
Up the other end, Madrid were clinical with the chances that came their way. Ronaldo scored a second inside the final 20 minutes, producing a fine finish after the ball had bounced up fortuitously on the edge of the box.
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And the 32-year-old all but killed off the tie when he rolled home from Lucas Vazquez’s pull back late on.