Cristiano Ronaldo’s stoppage-time penalty rescued Real Madrid in another dramatic Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday night.
Juventus were on the verge of extra-time at the Bernabeu after wiping out Real’s 3-0 first-leg lead in the space of an hour.
But with seconds remaining, Juve buckled. Mehdi Benatia brought down Lucas Vazquez to concede the penalty and Gianluigi Buffon was sent off by English referee Michael Oliver for his furious reaction. It was a tumultuous end to Buffon’s last ever Champions League match.
Cristiano Ronaldo rips off his shirt and shows off his bulging muscles after sending Real Madrid through in the final minute
Ronaldo rushes towards the corner flag to celebrate with the home fans after putting Real Madrid 4-3 ahead on aggregate
Ronaldo celebrates in front of the jubilant Real Madrid supporters as their hopes of a third successive triumph go on
Ronaldo fired a spotkick into the top corner to extinguish Juventus’ comeback in the 97th-minute of the game on Wednesday
Gianluigi Buffon is awarded a red card by referee Michael Oliver for complaining at the awarding of a stoppage-time penalty
A penalty was awarded after Juventus defender Medhi Benatia brought down Lucas Vazquez inside the six-yard box
Blaise Matuidi bundles home from close range to bring the aggregate scores level at 3-3 on the hour mark on Wednesday
Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas fumbled at the ball and deflected it into the path of the Juventus midfielder
Matuidi celebrates in front of the stunned Real Madrid fans as Juventus grabbed their third goal of the night to draw level
Veteran goalkeeper and Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon roars in celebration after Matuidi’s goal for the visitors
Mario Mandzukic powers a header into the back of the net at the near post from Stephan Lichtsteiner’s cross to make it 2-0
Mandzukic celebrates after his header shaved the deficit to just one goal shortly before half-time at the Bernabeu
Mario Mandzukic heads beyond the despairing dive of Keylor Navas to hand Juventus a second-minute lead at the Bernabeu
Gonzalo Higuain rushes to congratulate his team-mate after grabbing the ball for a quick re-start on Wednesday night
The recalled Gareth Bale is denied by Gianluigi Buffon as Real Madrid look to get back into the match after Juve’s early strike
Real Madrid No 1 Keylor Navas is at full stretch to dive and palm the ball away as it is directed goalwards early in the match
Juventus defender Mattia de Sciglio looks to ward off the attentions of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo by the touchline
Cristiano Ronaldo appeals for a decision from the referee as Juventus forward Douglas Costa claps behind him
Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane slides in and wins the ball from the toes of Juventus winger Douglas Costa
The ball bounces loose from Juventus strike pairing Mario Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain as Jesus Vallejo watches on
Gonzalo Higuain has his head in his hands on his return to the Bernabeu as a chance goes begging for the visitors
Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi rises highest to head the ball away ahead of opposite number Casemiro in the first-half
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is sent flying into the air after a challenge from Juventus defender Medhi Benatia
Stephan Lichtsteiner was the next to foul the Portuguese. The substitute had come on for De Sciglio and Ronaldo lost his boot in the clash. Lichtsteiner went into Oliver’s book for his next foul on Ronaldo. He was proving a liability at the back but on 38 minutes, he showed his worth at the other end. It was his cross that set up the second goal, Mandzukic again converting at the back post.
Buffon jumped up and down in his area to celebrate and raised a fist to Juventus supporters as he walked off at half-time. One more goal and Juventus would be level.
Zinedine Zidane had seen enough and sent Vazquez and Marco Asensio to warm-up at half time.
The substitutions were made and the axe fell on Bale, although he had been no worse than his team-mates. Casemiro was also taken off as Madrid tried to turn the tide, but the changes did not immediately pay off.
On the hour, Juventus were level. Navas failed to gather and Blaise Matuidi turned the ball over the line to complete Juventus’ incredible comeback.
Again no one celebrated the goal with more crazed delight than Buffon. The 40-year-old has said he will retire at the end of the season, but he and Juventus were not going quietly and their noisy fans were saluted by the veteran.
Real Madrid playmaker Isco looks to shield the ball from Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic during the second-leg contest
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo attempts to get a shot off at goal but miscues his effort in a crowded penalty area
Juventus were forced into an early substitution as Stephan Lichtsteiner came on to replace Mattia De Sciglio
Miralem Pjanic gestures towards referee Michael Oliver after Juventus team-mate Stephan Lichtsteiner took a blow
He was doing his bit with the gloves, too. Marcelo fed Isco and the midfielder’s shot looked destined for the far corner but perhaps the greatest goalkeeper to never win the Champions League sprang to his right to turn the ball round the post.
Madrid now knew that another Juventus goal would leave them needing two. It was a dilemma and Zidane brought Mateo Kovacic on to try to keep hold of the ball better in midfield.
The home supporters had not come for a night of drama. This was supposed to be procession into the semi-final and the chance to laugh together at Barcelona’s fate the night before.
Drama, however, is what they got. Whatever Roma had taken the 24 hours before, Juventus had enjoyed a big dose of it and Real feared they would finish the job.
Ronaldo went close with five minutes left. Isco and Dani Carvajal combined well and Ronaldo had the chance to settle it but he put the opportunity over.
Madrid were now camped in Juventus’ half and Ronaldo went down more in hope than expectation of getting anything. Juventus had spent the first half betraying their tradition by flying forward with abandon but as the clock ticked down they had now reverted to type and it seemed there was no way through the massed yellow ranks for Real Madrid.
But a moment of madness from Benatia and a moment of class from Ronaldo saved Real Madrid.
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo wanted a penalty after he tumbled over from a challenge by Medhi Benatia
Ronaldo’s protestations towards the referee fell on deaf ears as Real Madrid saw their lead reduced to one goal at half-time
Ronaldo had a first-half to forget after his bicycle kick goal last week and even lost his left boot at one point in the first period
Raphael Varane’s header on the stroke of half-time cannons off the crossbar as Real Madrid go in search of a vital goal
Buffon trudges off towards the tunnel after being sent off in what is likely to be his last ever Champions League appearance
Originally Published on dailymail
