Ronaldo seals controversial path to semis
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Bayern Munich in controversial fashion in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final.
Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick guided Real Madrid into the UEFA Champions League semi-finals after a thrilling and highly controversial 4-2 win over Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu.
The Portugal star followed up his first-leg double at Allianz Arena by taking his UEFA Champions League scoring tally to 100, helping to secure a 6-3 aggregate victory with two goals in extra-time.
Carlo Ancelotti named a vastly experienced Bayern side, with Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso — three winner's medals between them — ultimately playing their final games in the competition before retirement.
Madrid missed the better of the chances in an engaging first half before Arjen Robben made the game's first telling contribution, winning a penalty from Casemiro to allow the returning Robert Lewandowski to score.
Casemiro made amends when he crossed for Ronaldo to level the scores but Bayern was ahead a minute later through a bizarre own goal from Sergio Ramos on his 100th UEFA Champions League appearance for Madrid.
Bayern's hopes of completing the turnaround were dealt a major blow when Arturo Vidal was given a second yellow card for what looked to be a fair challenge on Marco Asensio, and the Bundesliga leader had further cause for anger when Ronaldo drilled in his second goal from an offside position.
Ronaldo completed his historic hat-trick before Asensio added a fine late fourth to make Madrid's win safe and send it into the last four for a record-breaking seventh season in a row.
But despite all the records, the match is more likely to remembered for the mistakes of the officials, who could also have legitimately sent off Casemiro for two rash challenges, one of which he was booked for, and an attempt to win a penalty through simulation.
Luck, however, fell in his favour while Munich will feel it deserved more.