CRISTIANO RONALDO and KARIM BENZEMA bounced back with a bang to shut down recent criticisms of their goal ratio.
The pair got a brace each as Real Madrid routed Apoel Nicosia — which is double their individual La Liga tallies for the season.
With just one each, Benzema and Ronaldo is the second-worst strike partnership in Europe's top five leagues.
But they worked in perfect harmony as the back-to-back champions demolished Apoel to secure their place in the next round.
After a fairly even start in which the Cypriots had their share of chances, Luka Modricput Real Madrid in control with a spectacular effort.
The Croatian volleyed into the bottom corner after a clearance was looped into the air to give the visitors a 23rd minute lead. Benzema finally got his second goal of the season on 39 minutes as he finished off after being set up by Toni Kroos before Nacho got in on the attack two minutes later.
But it was for number four where Real Madrid's front pair showed just how in tune they are. Ronaldo, who has been under-fire himself, had the chance to shoot but dummied his effort before laying the ball off for Benzema who slotted into the net in first half stoppage time.
It meant he had become the highest assist-maker in past ten Champions League seasons with 27. That move was just delaying the inevitable, however, as the four-time Ballon d'Or-winner headed home his first of the evening four minutes into the second half.
Despite his underwhelming season, Real Madrid's No 7 has scored in every Champions League match so far this season.
Never content with just one, he pounced on a catastrophic defensive mishap to slot number six into an empty net.
Ronaldo made it two goals in a Champions League match for the third time this season.
And the second made it 100 in Europe for Los Blancos with the 98 in the continent's premier competition a record for a single club.
While his 18 in the calendar year 2017 is also a record for the Portuguese superstar.
From The Sun
No comments:
Post a Comment