Cristiano Ronaldo scored another European hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Atletico 3-0 in their Champions League semi-final, first leg clash on Tuesday.
The Portugal international has now netted back-to-back trebles in the competition after also doing so against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals and put himself on level terms with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi for Champions League hat-tricks (7).
There is something about Real that Atlético simply cannot overcome; everyone else is one thing, their city rivals another. Under Simeone, Atlético Madrid have conceded only 20 goals in Champions League knockout rounds, including finals, but nine of them have been to Real. Three here carried Real towards a third final in four years. They were led by the relentless Cristiano Ronaldo. Five times he scored against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals; three times he scored against Atlético.
The result puts Real in a dominant position in the tie as they chase consecutive Champions League titles, while Atletico will have it all to do in the second leg on May 10.
Match report on BBC Sport
Match Analysis on Sky Sports
Social Media
The Bernabeu was rocking in the post-match celebrations
https://twitter.com/RMadridVideos/status/859514146395754499
Congratulations @Cristiano 400 Goals for @realmadrid #CR7 #ronaldo @RealMadryt_pl @Hala_Madrid_PL #HalaMadrid #RealMadrid #HalaMadrid #Real pic.twitter.com/bOTCzmNzbq
— teeJaY (@LysekTomasz) May 3, 2017
💬 Read what #Zidane had to say after our Champions League semi-final first leg victory over @atletienglish…
👉 https://t.co/ks8bBY7xRS pic.twitter.com/gWhvz8pRlC
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) May 2, 2017
