Sublime. Sensational. Majestic. Glorious.
Those are only a few of the superlatives that will be used to describe Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid after a convincing 3-0 win over 10-man Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday in Turin.
Ronaldo scored twice – including a superb bicycle kick in the 64th minute – and assisted Madrid’s third of the game, while Paulo Dybala was sent off for Juventus.
Here are five takeaways from the match.
Deja-vu for Juventus
It was like witnessing a repeat of last year’s Champions League final.
The only difference was Juventus conceded much earlier in this match, but took control for the remainder of the first half. That carried into the first 15 minutes of the second interval until Real Madrid’s midfield, and Ronaldo, shattered the Bianconeri at home.
Isco, Toni Kroos and Casemiro continuously picked out excellent passes to Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, who kept targeting the significantly slower Andrea Barzagli. That is how the first and third goals were scored.
Credit to Varane
It’s hard to believe Raphaael Varane is only 24 years old. He has the poise of a defender who’s played in dozens of high-stakes matches. That is because Varane already has plenty of big-game experience.
While Keylor Navas made a few quality saves, it was Varane’s class defending that helped Madrid sew up the clean sheet. The Frenchman’s positioning also meant Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain barely had any touches in the box in open play.
It's stupid to think that you'd go past Casemiro then Ramos then Varane. It's easier to try going past the avengers than those three
— Stifler (@Samzen_) April 3, 2018
Varane’s distribution was what stood out, though. Time and time again, he calmly picked out the perfect pass for Casemiro, Kroos or Modric to kickstart an attack. With Juve attempting to pin Los Blancos in their own half, they needed that vision to break past the press.
There is no doubt that Varane is an elite centre-back. Perhaps partnering Sergio Ramos leads to many overlooking the French international. Whatever the reason, he’s an integral figure for Real Madrid and will be for many years to come.
Bentancur a bright spot for Juve
It was a rather disappointing day for Juventus, although coach Massimiliano Allegri can take solace in Rodrigo Bentancur’s performance.
The young Uruguayan’s intelligence on the ball and quick thinking led to some promising counter-attacks early in the match. Once the tempo settled down, Bentancur proved he can be a solid link in midfield, cycle the ball across the pitch and keep the team in-sync.
The 20-year-old is slated to start for Uruguay at the World Cup this summer. Until then, he’s worth monitoring because whenever Allegri has started Bentancur, he’s usually taken advantage.
Isco answers Zidane’s challenge
Following Spain’s 6-1 rout of Argentina on March 27, Isco – who bagged a hat trick in the game – was left wondering why he’s not been able to fully win the trust of Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.
Zidane must be more convinced by Isco’s abilities after his display versus Juventus. After noticing Mattia De Sciglio and Douglas Costa marking Marcelo, the Spaniard ran into the open space on the left, received the pass from the Brazilian full-back, read Ronaldo’s run and laid off a perfectly weighted ball into the Portuguese’s path.
It’s those sequences that back up the “Magic” nickname coined by his fellow Real Madrid players. Whether it was a long or short pass, the 25-year-old was executing pristine balls all over the pitch. It was easy to lose count of how many times Ronaldo was released into acres of space by Isco.
Isco's stats v Juventus:
100% pass accuracy
68 touches
54 passes
4 fouls suffered
1 dribble
1 assist— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 3, 2018
Oddly, Isco has played in 35 matches, 27 as a starter, for Real Madrid in all competitions this season. That includes eight starts in the Champions League. With a squad full of competitive players, Zidane admitted that he has to rotate. However, the more Isco plays like that, the easier it will be for the coach to regularly include him in the lineup.
Ronaldo continues to amaze
Claims of Ronaldo’s imminent decline in the first half of the season were somewhat premature.
Ronaldo became the first player in history to score in 10 consecutive Champions League matches. It was also his eighth and ninth goals against Juventus, more than anyone else.
The Portuguese now has 38 goals in 36 matches in all competitions this season. He’s scored in every match since Feb. 10, a run of nine games, and that includes both legs versus PSG tie in the Round of 16 and today’s win over Juventus.
The bicycle kick itself was even more impressive because it should’ve been an awkward set up for him. The cross from Dani Carvajal was behind Ronaldo, so he had to adjust and stick his leg above his head before placing it into the far right corner. It was so incredible, even the home fans stood up to applaud.
At 33, Ronaldo’s been forced into a new role as a centre forward of sorts. He may not be the same player compared to a few years ago, but those early season concerns were curious. The Portuguese superstar was in the right areas. He just wasn’t finishing. Now he’s more clinical. That should be a concern for other European foes, as well as his World Cup opponents.
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