Cristiano Ronaldo scored a 98th-minute penalty as Real Madrid sensationally booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Champions League with a 4-3 aggregate win over Juventus.
The reigning European champions entered the match holding a 3-0 advantage from the first leg in Turin, but Juventus hit back with three goals of their own to leave the tie level at 3-3 entering stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes.
Ronaldo spectacularly sent Los Blancos into the final four, however, when he converted from the penalty spot after Medhi Benatia had felled Lucas Vazquez, with the aftermath seeing Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon receive a straight red card for dissent.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live Champions League coverage continues from the Spanish capital as Real Madrid welcome Juventus for the second leg of their quarter-final. Real Madrid are the overwhelming favourites to make yet another European Cup semi-final courtesy of their hugely impressive 3-0 win in the first leg last week. Can Juventus upset the holders here? Stay tuned to find out!
Cristiano Ronaldo sent Real Madrid on their way in just the third minute of the first leg last week, before the Portuguese scored a stunning bicycle kick to make it 2-0 in the 64th minute. It went from bad to worse for Juventus as they had Paulo Dybala sent off before Marcelo made it 3-0 in the 72nd minute. The Italian champions have a serious mountain to climb in the second leg tonight.
Tonight will be the 21st European meeting between Real Madrid and Juventus. It is the Spanish side that lead the head-to-head 10 wins to eight, and only two of their previous 20 meetings have finished level. It is a tie that has favoured the home side, with Real Madrid winning five of their eight clashes in Spain.
Just a reminder - well, a still image - of that incredible Ronaldo goal last week...
© Offside
Real Madrid beat Juventus 4-1 in last season's Champions League final to make it back-to-back titles, but the two teams have not met at the Bernabeu since the semi-finals of the 2014-15 competition. It was Juventus that progressed on that occasion as a 1-1 draw in Madrid saw them advance 3-2 on aggregate.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news. Both teams were in league action at the weekend – Real Madrid drawing 1-1 at home to Atletico Madrid, while Juventus recorded a 4-2 victory at Benevento. Let's run through the two teams here...
TEAMS!
REAL MADRID: Keylor; Carvajal, Varane, Vallejo, Marcelo; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric; Isco, Ronaldo, Bale
JUVENTUS: Buffon; De Sciglio, Benatia, Chiellini, Sandro; Khedira, Pjanic, Matuidi; Costa, Higuain, Mandzukic
Real Madrid's team shows two changes from the one that started the first leg in Turin last week, with Jesus Vallejo and Gareth Bale coming in for Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema. Skipper Ramos is out for the home side through suspension, but out-of-form Benzema has been dropped to the bench as Bale is picked to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Isco in the final third of the field.
© Offside
As for Juventus, Mario Mandzukic, Blaise Matuidi, Mehdi Benatia and Miralem Pjanic are handed recalls to the XI, and there does appear to be a change of formation for the visitors, who will seemingly line up in a 4-4-3. Alex Sandro has dropped from a wide left position to left full-back, but Douglas Costa keeps his spot despite struggling in the first leg. Paulo Dybala is suspended following his red card last week.
So there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 30 minutes from kickoff in the Spanish capital. I shall speak about Juventus a little bit later, but let's start with Real Madrid. As mentioned, Los Blancos will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid at the weekend, with that result leaving Zinedine Zidane's side four points off their second-placed rivals.
👕👌 That famous white kit is looking good! #APorLa13 pic.twitter.com/hKyb0fNxiC — Real Madrid C.F.🇺🇸🇬🇧 (@realmadriden) April 11, 2018
Real Madrid actually finished second in Group H to Tottenham Hotspur this season, and they were paired with much-fancied Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16. Zidane's side showed their class over their two matches with the French club, however, as they won the first leg 3-1 at the Bernabeu before recording a 2-1 victory in Paris on March 6 to progress. The atmosphere is really building here!
It seems incredible that the holders Real Madrid are bidding to make the semi-finals of the Champions League for the eighth year in succession, and they have actually been victorious in their last six games against Italian opposition. What's more, Los Blancos have won 34 of their last 40 home matches in the Champions League, which is some record at this level of competition.
Real Madrid have also only lost one of the last 32 UEFA competition ties where they won the first leg away from home, with that sole defeat coming against Odense BK in the 1994-95 UEFA Cup third round. Only a minor miracle will prevent the Madrid giants from reaching the final four tonight.
150 - Cristiano Ronaldo will be the third player to reach 150 appearances in the Champions League, after Iker Casillas (167) and Xavi Hernandez (151). Milestone. pic.twitter.com/BPckoel2Ty — OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 11, 2018
Juventus booked their spot in the knockout round of the Champions League courtesy of a runners-up spot to Barcelona in Group D. They won three of their six group fixtures – losing just once to collect 11 points. That defeat came away to Barcelona (3-0) on matchday one, and they were well short of the required level on that particular night. Kickoff at the Bernabeu is now just 10 minutes away!
The first leg of their last-16 tie with Tottenham Hotspur finished 2-2 on February 13, but the Italian giants impressively won 2-1 at Wembley in the return match to book their spot in the quarter-finals. Last week's first leg really hurt them, however, and the 3-0 reverse in Turin was actually their joint-heaviest home European defeat. Roma managed to turn around a three-goal deficit against Barcelona last night, however, and Juventus will be looking to follow their Serie A rivals tonight. It is some ask though.
Juventus beat Barcelona in last season's quarter-finals, and have been victorious in 12 of their previous 18 appearances at this stage of the European Cup. They have lost 16 of their 24 away games against La Liga opposition, however, and it is very difficult to imagine them turning this tie around tonight. Right, the time for talking is almost over. Kickoff inside this wonderful stadium comes next!
KICKOFF! Real Madrid kick things off in Spain...
... it must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium tonight. If Juventus have serious ambitions of turning things around then they need to quieten the crowd with an early goal.
GOAL! Real Madrid 0-1 Juventus (Mandzukic)
Oh my goodness! Juventus have their early goal! It is the dream start for the Italian champions as Mandzukic heads a deep Khedira cross into the back of the net from close range!
Roma incredibly overcame Barcelona last night, but surely this would top that? It is important not to get carried away due to Real Madrid's advantage, but it is the start that the home fans feared here.
Juventus continue to force the issue in the early stages as De Sciglio breaks forward before delivering a deep cross towards Higuain, but the Argentine cannot make contact. Real Madrid are yet to settle here as Juventus enjoy a lot of the possession. Carvajal urges his teammates to settle down here.
SAVE! Navas keeps out a close-range Higuain effort after Costa had broken clear down the left! Real Madrid are all over the place in a defensive area at the moment!
Real Madrid break clear down the right as Bale finds some room before delivering towards Ronaldo, but the number seven sees his effort blocked by Benatia. Just a few signs that the home side are warming to their task with 10 minutes on the clock. I would be astounded if we had seen the last of the goals here.
CHANCE! Big chance for Real Madrid as Modric releases Bale inside the Juventus box, but the Welshman cannot poke the ball past Buffon, who is on hand to make a smart save.
It has been a decent response from the home side, with Bale causing problems in the wide positions. Isco has just had a half-chance, meanwhile, but his flicked effort did not have enough power.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Isco fires home after Buffon had kept out a strike from Ronaldo, but the goal has been disallowed. That looked very tight indeed.
Isco was onside! The goal should have stood!
CHANCE! Navas manages to keep out an effort from Mandzukic, who looked to bundle the ball towards goal following a corner. Chances at either end here - brilliant game of football.
BOOKING! Pjanic (Juventus) is booked for pulling Isco's shirt.
JUVENTUS SUB! Juventus are forced into an early change as De Sciglio, who looks injured, is replaced by Lichtsteiner. Not great news for the away side it must be said.
Good pressure from Real Madrid in the last few minutes as they keep the ball in and around the Juventus box. Ronaldo seems to be working a lot of space in the final third, while Isco is finding space between the lines. I just cannot see Juventus keeping Real Madrid out in this match.
Benatia is a touch fortunate to escape a yellow for bringing Ronaldo to the deck.
Costa breaks clear for Juventus before looking to release Mandzukic down the opposite side, but Carvajal is on hand to make the challenge. It is an end-to-end match with 23 minutes on the clock.
BOOKING! Carvajal (Real Madrid) is booked for a late challenge on Mandzukic.
Mandzukic is finally back on his feet following a period of treatment. Juventus just need to be careful that they do not get pinned back here as Real Madrid move the ball with pace in the final third.
Khedira releases one from distance, but his effort was always moving wide of the post.
Higuain continues to impress for the away side as he picks the ball up in a central area before popping it wide and working his way towards goal. Varane, however, is across to make the challenge. Casemiro is having a tough time in the Real Madrid midfield at the moment as Khedira continues to win the battle.
BOOKING! Mandzukic (Juventus) is booked for a poor tackle on Carvajal.
Marcelo hits one from just outside the Juventus box, but his effort was always rising over the crossbar. The Brazilian had all sorts of space, and might well have done better from that position.
Ronaldo is not too happy with tonight's English referee as he feels that he is receiving some rough treatment. There have already been three yellow cards in this match, and I suspect that will rise.
Kroos has a goal-bound strike blocked after a smart pick-out from Isco.
Isco lifts the ball over the Juventus crossbar after working some space just inside the penalty box. It must be said that the first 34 minutes of this second leg have flown past. What a game it has been.
SAVE! Huge save from Buffon as the Juventus goalkeeper keeps out a close-range Isco effort after the Spaniard had been released by Ronaldo. Excellent stuff from Buffon there!
BOOKING! Lichtsteiner (Juventus) is booked for a pull on Ronaldo.
GOAL! Real Madrid 0-2 Juventus (Mandzukic)
Oh my goodness me! Juventus have their second of the night, and it is Mandzukic once again as the striker heads a super Lichtsteiner cross into the corner of the net. Absolute scenes in Madrid!
Little over five minutes of the first period remaining, and Real Madrid really need a goal to just settle some nerves here. Another for Juventus and oh my goodness, it would be some contest.
The Juventus fans are in fine voice at the moment, and why not? Real Madrid have been shocked in this first period, and they will be extremely wary of what happened to Barcelona last night.
Matuidi bites into a challenge with Modric as Juventus continue to win the battle in the middle of the park. We have not seen an awful lot from Bale in this first 45 minutes it must be said.
Higuain is causing Vallejo all sorts of problems as he drives past the centre-back once again, but the Spaniard does well to get back at the second time of asking. We are into first-half stoppage time here.
CROSSBAR! Varane's header from a Kroos free kick hits the crossbar!
HALF-TIME: Real Madrid 0-2 Juventus
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Juventus leading 2-0 on the night courtesy of a first-half double from Mario Mandzukic. Real Madrid are still 3-2 ahead in the tie, but it has been a very uncomfortable first 45 minutes for the reigning European champions.
STATISTICS! Real Madrid shaded the first-half possession with 57%, while they managed 11 attempts - four of which were on target. Juventus, meanwhile, hit the target with four of their seven attempts, and have managed two goals. There have also been four yellow cards in a very entertaining first period.
BENCH WATCH! Juventus have already been forced into a change tonight, with Lichtsteiner replacing De Sciglio, who limped off the field. Asamoah, Cuadrado and Marchisio are among those still in reserve for the visitors here. As for Real Madrid, Zidane has the likes of Asensio, Benzema and Lucas to call on.
RESTART! Juventus resume the action here...
REAL MADRID SUBS! Asensio and Lucas have replaced Casemiro and Bale at the interval. Zidane is not messing about as he makes two half-time changes in this match.
Just a reminder that this match could go to extra-time if Juventus were to record a 3-0 win at the end of 90 minutes. That seemed unthinkable before the game, but it is a very real possibility now.
Lucas and Asensio combine in the final third of the field, but the latter is just caught offside following a cute pass from the former. Not too much from Juventus in the early stages of the second period.
Half-chance for Juventus as Costa finds space down the right before cutting inside Marcelo, but the attacker's shot was always rising over the crossbar. Marcelo has really struggled tonight.
Varane does really well to clear the danger under pressure from Higuain, who had looked favourite to meet a Sandro cross from the left. Sandro has been very impressive for Juventus in this match.
Super work from Ronaldo as the number seven takes things into his own hands by dancing past a couple of challenges before winning a corner, which brings the Real Madrid fans to their feet.
Mandzukic is on a hat-trick for Juventus, but Allegri might well be considering taking the number 17 off following another collision with Carvajal. Mandzukic is walking a fine line on a yellow card.
Little over 30 minutes of the second period remaining. Well, of normal time anyway. We could have extra-time in this match if Juventus score again. Not many chances since the break through.
Smart hands from Buffon to keep out a strike from Ronaldo.
SAVE! Navas does well to keep out a strike from Higuain after the Argentine had worked some space on the edge of the box. You do get the feeling that we have not seen the last of the goals.
GOAL! Real Madrid 0-3 Juventus (Matuidi)
Oh my word. Juventus indeed have their third goal of the night, and we are all square in Madrid. Matuidi levels the tie as the midfielder taps home from close range following a disaster piece of goalkeeping from Navas, who drops a cross inside his own box. It is simply incredible, and we are all square!
At the moment, we are heading for extra-time, which is absolutely incredible.
If ever Real Madrid needed a stunning over-head kick from Ronaldo then it is now. Still more than 25 minutes of normal time remaining, and it is 3-0 Juventus, 3-3 on aggregate in this quarter-final.
BOOKING! Sandro (Juventus) is booked for a foul on Ronaldo.
Real Madrid have a free kick in a dangerous area as Sandro fells Vazquez...
... Asensio misses the crossbar from the resulting set piece.
Little under 20 minutes of normal time remaining, and this quarter-final is locked at 3-3.
BOOKING! Costa (Juventus) is booked for a poor challenge on Asensio.
You just wonder whether this could be Benzema's night to come off the bench and shine.
REAL MADRID SUB! No Benzema. It is Kovacic for Modric here.
You just get the feeling that something is going to happen in the final 15 minutes of normal time. A fourth goal for Juventus would leave Real Madrid needing two in the latter stages here.
SAVE! Buffon is down to keep out a strike from Isco!
CHANCE! Varane turns inside the Juventus box before managing to force the ball towards goal, but his effort misses the post. Better from the home side in the last couple of minutes.
CLOSE! Chiellini just heads over his own crossbar!
BOOKING! Marcelo (Real Madrid) is booked for a foul on Costa.
Matuidi delivers low into the Real Madrid box, but Varane is on hand to make the clearance. There appears to be some movement on the Juventus bench as they consider making a change here.
Juventus are the more controlled of the two teams at the moment as they pass and probe in the final third. It does appear that this quarter-final is heading for extra-time, which is just incredible.
CHANCE! Ronaldo heads a Carvajal cross over the goal at the far post!
Time is running out, and we are seemingly heading for extra-time in this quarter-final.
Chiellini is there to head clear for the 100th time as Juventus are forced to defend late on.
BOOKING! Benatia (Juventus) is booked for a poor tackle on Asensio.
We are into the second of three minutes of added time here.
Normal time is almost over, and Buffon has the ball. Extra-time surely here.
PENALTY REAL MADRID!
RED CARD! BUFFON! Oh my word! Real Madrid have a penalty in the 93rd minute of this match, and Buffon has been sent off for dissent! He is going absolutely mental here!
Benatia seemed to bundle into the back of Lucas, and the referee pointed to the spot!
JUVENTUS SUB! Szczesny replaces Higuain for the away side.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-3 Juventus (Ronaldo, pen)
It is just incredible. An incredible end to this tie. Ronaldo surely wins it for Real Madrid as he sends his penalty into the top corner of the net! It is just a ridiculous finish to this match.
BOOKING! Ronaldo (Real Madrid) is booked for taking his shirt off.
FULL-TIME: Real Madrid 1-3 Juventus
There are almost no words. It is simply incredible. That Ronaldo penalty has sent Real Madrid into the semi-finals of the Champions League courtesy of a 4-3 aggregate success. Juventus were 3-0 ahead entering the final moments, but that Ronaldo penalty has decided this tie. What a finish in Madrid.
Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again, and what a night it was. Real Madrid join Bayern Munich, Roma and Liverpool in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
