Cristiano Ronaldo scored one of the Champions League's great goals as his incredible bicycle kick helped Real Madrid demolish Juventus in the quarter-final first leg
For a brief moment, there was stunned silence. It felt as if nobody could comprehend what they had witnessed.
Then the applause broke out. It came from all sides of this boisterous arena. In great blocks, the Juventus supporters rose to their feet. It was to recognise sporting genius and it did not matter to them that it had come from a rival.
Cristiano Ronaldo had put Real Madrid in control of this Champions League quarter-final with an early close-range finish. He now had them in sight of the next stage and, even by his exulted standards, it was a jaw-dropping intervention.
highlights :
When Dani Carvajal stood up a cross from the right, Ronaldo instinctively knew that the overhead kick was on.
He leapt, hung at high altitude and stretched before swivelling his hips and working a right-footed masterpiece beyond Gianluigi Buffon from behind the penalty spot. The crowd’s reaction was almost as beautiful.
When does this ever happen? In the heat of the moment, it felt unique.
Man of the match Cristiano Ronaldo.