Real Madrid humble Guardiola as Ronaldo runs riot in Munich
Madrid book place in Champions League final with rampant win to bring down their old nemesis
Bayern Munich 0 Real Madrid 4 [Real win 5-0 on aggregate]. Pep Guardiola's hold over Real Madrid was shattered at the Allianz Arena as another masterclass from Cristiano Ronaldo blew Bayern Munich away and took Real Madrid into their first Champions League final in 12 years.
As manager of Barcelona Guardiola had the measure of Los Blancos, overseeing nine wins and just one regular-time loss in 15 El Clasico matches. But it is a different story now he is in charge of Bayern, and Madrid exacted a terrible revenge on the man who used to be their nemesis on a humiliating night for the reigning European champions.
Bayern simply had no answer to the brilliance of Ronaldo as the Portuguese forward scored twice to set a new record for goals in a single Champions League campaign.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Ronaldo's rampage would probably not have been possible had it not been for the early damage done by a defender. Bayern were 1-0 down after the first leg and tore into Madrid from the off. But the tactic backfired as Sergio Ramos scored twice in the opening 20 minutes, heading home set-pieces, to stun the Bayern crowd and leave them 3-0 down on aggregate and chasing the game.
That meant Madrid were able to counter attack almost at will and Ronaldo made it 3-0 just after the half hour mark, after being set up by Gareth Bale. It was his 15th goal of the competition this season, taking him beyond the previous record of 14 jointly held by Lionel Messi (Barcelona, 2011-12), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United, 2002-03) and Jose Altafini (1962-63, AC Milan).
But Ronaldo wasn't finished with Bayern and Guardiola just yet, and a minute from time he fired home a cheeky free kick, slipped under the wall, for his 16th European goal of the season and the 67th of his Champions League career. That is the same number as his great rival Messi and just four short of the record held by former Real striker Raul.
Ronaldo will have the chance to add to his tally on 24 May in Lisbon when Real play the winners of tonight's second semi-final between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, the first leg of which ended scoreless in Spain last week.
Whoever wins tonight's encounter will go to Portugal as rank outsiders against a Real side now on course to lift their tenth European Cup, but their first since beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in the 2002 final.
The result was a particular thrill for Bale, who joined Real from Tottenham last summer in an £86m fee. The Welshman created Ronaldo's first goal and said later the victory vindicated his decision to leave the Premier League. "This is why I wanted to come to the biggest club in the world, to win trophies in massive games," he declared, "We still haven't won it yet, we have a difficult game in the final whoever it may be, but I'm looking forward to it."
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti was similarly ebullient, singling out Bale, Ronaldo and Benzema for the way they "sacrificed themselves for the team" tonight.
Asked who would prefer to meet in the final, Ancelotti replied: "I don't know who I would prefer to face... Chelsea have a lot of experience while Atletico are really eager. The most important thing from our perspective is that we are going to be there."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wicked fails to defy gravity
Talking Point Film version of hit stage musical weighed down by 'sense of self-importance'
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
The 'Swiss model' shaking up the Champions League
In The Spotlight Uefa says the new format offers 'greater excitement' but critics say boredom is guaranteed
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The European Super League: a 90th-minute reprieve?
Why everyone's talking about A European court ruling has potentially breathed new life into the breakaway football league
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
‘Genuine visionary’: is Pep Guardiola the greatest of all time?
feature Spaniard has now won two trebles following Man City’s Champions League triumph
By The Week Staff Published
-
Champions League final: Man City vs. Inter predictions and preview
feature Can Guardiola’s team finally win the Champions League and complete a historic treble?
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Where will Cristiano Ronaldo go next?
feature Portugal captain has been linked with a mega-money move to Saudi Arabia
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Reactions to Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘explosive’ interview with Piers Morgan
feature Portugal captain feels ‘betrayed’ by Man Utd and believes he’s being forced out of the club
By Mike Starling Published
-
What next for Cristiano Ronaldo? How the relationship with Man Utd turned sour
Under the Radar Portugal star has ‘almost certainly’ played his last game for United as he is dropped for Chelsea clash
By Mike Starling Published
-
Uefa Champions League 2022-2023 guide: group stage draw and key dates
feature Liverpool face Rangers while Man City’s Erling Haaland has a reunion with Dortmund
By Mike Starling Published