Cristiano Ronaldo was the star of the night, scoring a hat-trick as Real Madrid qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League with a 3-0 victory over Wolfsburg in the second leg of their last-eight clash at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.
The Spanish giants went into the match trailing by two goals in the quarter-final tie after their shock 2-0 defeat at the Volkswagen Arena last week.
But a brilliant treble from Ronaldo, who has now scored 16 Champions League goals this season, helped Los Blancos make the final four of the competition for the sixth successive season.
The Portuguese struck twice in the first 17 minutes to cancel out Wolfsburg's 2-0 first-leg lead, but decided the tie with a majestic free-kick late in proceedings.
Die Wolfe had their chances, and Zinedine Zidane will lament the way in which his side sat back and seemed to give up their domination after those early goals.
But, after being so clinical last week in Germany, the Bundesliga side struggled to do much with the few chances they created and bowed out of the Champions League.
Die Wolfe had their chances, and Zinedine Zidane will lament the way in which his side sat back and seemed to give up their domination after those early goals.
But, after being so clinical last week in Germany, the Bundesliga side struggled to do much with the few chances they created and bowed out of the Champions League.
Zidane resists the temptation to go all-out
Cool, bald head: Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane has proven to be naturally quite a conservative coach, perhaps informed by his experience as a creative player in knowing that he needed a defensive shield.
He has provided his difference-makers with one in the shape of Casemiro and the Brazilian can now consider himself part of Zidane's strongest XI.
When predecessor Rafael Benitez played the 24-year-old he was criticised for being too defensive, and yet in a game where Zidane knew he had to win by (at least) two goals, the Frenchman still started his midfield anchor.
And Casemiro's presence was crucial in the two early goals that broke Wolfsburg's back in this game.
Having the Brazilian to hold the midfield allowed Madrid's full-backs to bomb on and both of those Cristiano Ronaldo goals originated from Dani Carvajal's buccaneering runs down the right flank.
The first was a Carvajal cross, deflected off Ricardo Rodriguez, that Ronaldo swept home at the far post while the second saw the Portuguese head home after Carvajal had won a corner.
It meant that, even without playing particularly well, Madrid had levelled the tie.
Zinedine Zidane has proven to be naturally quite a conservative coach, perhaps informed by his experience as a creative player in knowing that he needed a defensive shield.
He has provided his difference-makers with one in the shape of Casemiro and the Brazilian can now consider himself part of Zidane's strongest XI.
When predecessor Rafael Benitez played the 24-year-old he was criticised for being too defensive, and yet in a game where Zidane knew he had to win by (at least) two goals, the Frenchman still started his midfield anchor.
And Casemiro's presence was crucial in the two early goals that broke Wolfsburg's back in this game.
Having the Brazilian to hold the midfield allowed Madrid's full-backs to bomb on and both of those Cristiano Ronaldo goals originated from Dani Carvajal's buccaneering runs down the right flank.
The first was a Carvajal cross, deflected off Ricardo Rodriguez, that Ronaldo swept home at the far post while the second saw the Portuguese head home after Carvajal had won a corner.
It meant that, even without playing particularly well, Madrid had levelled the tie.
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