Cristiano Ronaldo sets another record as Real Madrid win thriller
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Updated 06/12/2017 at 22:34 GMT
Champions League Group H, Santiago Bernabeu Stadium - Real Madrid 3 ( Mayoral 8', Ronaldo 12', Vasquez 81') Borussia Dortmund 2 (Aubameyang 43', 48')
Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) celebrates a goal beside Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic during the UEFA Champions League group H football match Real Madrid CF vs Borussia Dortmund at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in
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Cristiano Ronaldo became the first man ever to score in every Champions League group game - he managed nine in total - as Madrid edged Dortmund, who qualified for the Europa League nonetheless thanks to Apoel's defeat against Spurs.
Madrid started really well against a Dortmund side struggling for form and configured in a now-unfamiliar 4-3-3 system. After eight minutes, Ronaldo and Isco combined, allowing Borja Mayoral to score his first Champions League goal, and shortly afterwards, Ronaldo set his new standard in suitable style, ripping home a curler into the far top corner.
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Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 6, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.
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But bit by bit, Dortmund eased their way into the game, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's reply was not a surprise, coming, as it did, after several warnings. That was just before half-time; just after half-time, he scored again, a delicious chip punishing Keylor Navas for saving his first effort.
To their credit, Madrid did not sulk, but gradually turned up the pressure - thanks in part to some attacking substitutions - until Dortmund were pinned inside their own half, and eventually, on 80 minutes, Lucas Vasquez forced home the winner. Madrid, though, have work to do if they are to defend their title a second time, while Dortmund suggested they might just be trying to find themselves; if they play in the Europa League the way they played tonight, they have a good chance of winning it.
TALKING POINT
How does Zinedine Zidane find his best team? Marco Asensio made a huge difference when he came on; Gareth Bale is still excellent; Dani Ceballos is hugely promising; Isco is now one of the best players in Europe and yet there is only room for one of them in the team .. unless Zinedine Zidane leaves out Toni Kroos or Luka Modric.
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Zinedine Zidane, Manager of Real Madrid gives his team instructions during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 6, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.
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MAN OF THE MATCH
Isco (Real Madrid) A magician. His movement, vision, and the angles of his touches are special.
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Real Madrid's Spanish midfielder Isco (L) vies with Dortmund's German midfielder Julian Weigl during the UEFA Champions League group H football match Real Madrid CF vs Borussia Dortmund at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on December 6, 2017
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PLAYER RATINGS
Real Madrid: Navas 6, Nacho 5, Ramos 5, Varane 6, Theo 6, Casemiro 6, Kovacic 6, Isco 8, Lucas Vasquez 7, Mayoral 7, Ronaldo 7. Subs: Asensio 7, Ceballos 6, Llorente 6.
Borussia Dortmund: Burki 6, Sokratis 6, Subotic 6, Schmelzer 7, Bartra 5, Sahin 6, Dahoud 6, Guerreiro 5, Pulisic 6, Aubameyang 7, Kagawa 5. Subs: Weigl 6, Toprak 6, Yarmolenko 6.
KEY MOMENTS
9’ - GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Borussia Dortmund (Mayoral) Dortmund lose possession and immediately Madrid find Ronaldo on the left touchline. He skips across Barta and with no shot on, clips a clever pass into the box for Isco, who pirouettes looking to bring the ball with him into his stride. It doesn't work out, but does find Mayroal's instead, and he clips a deft finish over the diving Burki for his first Champions League goal. And a well-taken one it is too.
13’ - GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Borussia Dortmund (Ronaldo) HISTORY! THE FIRST MAN EVER TO SCORE IN ALL SIX CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GAMES! THAT'S NINE GOALS IN TOTAL, AND WHAT A BLINDER THIS IS! HE TAKES THE BALL ON THE CORNER OF THE BOX, SNEAKS A YARD OFF BARTRA, AND CURLS A BEAUTY INTO THE TOP FAR-LEFT CORNER! HE JOINS LIONEL MESSI ON 60 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GOALS TOTAL! WHAT A RIDICULOUS HOMO SAPIENS!
43’ - GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Borussia Dortmund 1 (Aubameyang) Nacho plays a poor pass which Schmelzer intercepts, before slinging over a cross for Aubameyang; he dives to punch a glancing header into the far corner, a very nicely taken effort.
48’ - GOAL! Real Madrid 2-2 Borussia Dortmund (Aubameyang) This is strange and beautiful. Sahin darts a ball into the box and Kagawa backflicks to find Aubameyang in the box and he looks offside - he is offside, so everyone stops - but the flag stays down. So he ducks inside Ramos and shoots low, Navas saving with a sweeping leg only to return the ball to Aubameyang, who stubs a chip over him and in. That's beautifully done, and Madrid are suddenly struggling.
80’ - GOAL! Real Madrid 3-2 Borussia Dortmund (Lucas Vasquez) Madrid pump another ball into the box and Mayoral challenges Bartra, who can't clear effectively. The ball drops to Theo, who sets for Vasquez - outside the box, left of centre - and he contorts his body to use the outside of his right foot, forcing the ball across Burki and in.
KEY STATS
Cristiano Ronaldo has taken 21 shots in both the league and Champions League; he has two goals in the first and nine in the second.
Isco is the only Real Madrid player to have made five assists in each of the last five seasons in all competitions; he has 44 in total.
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