10. Copa Del Rey final winner vs Barcelona, 20th April 2011
You can view a video of the goal here.
Clasicos were always fun between 2010 and 2013, as the fans had the chance to witness two epic battles between two of the greatest players of all time and two of the greatest managers of all time. This time it was in a Copa Del Rey final, a trophy which wasn’t claimed by Real Madrid for 19 years. With a rejuvenated Real Madrid under Mourinho and with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo in the team, the fans hoped to see the team lift their 18th Domestic Cup.
It was a fierce battle, and Ronaldo turned up for the big game. He was lethal on the break and got chances, but he couldn’t get a goal to show in the first 90 minutes with the scoreline being 0-0 and the game heading into extra time. Cristiano created a glorious opportunity for himself in the first half of extra time, by leading a counter-attack, but he missed the bottom right corner by inches.
It looked like the game was heading into extra time, but Ronaldo had other intentions. A sequence of some great linkup play between Marcelo and Angel Di Maria in the 103rd minute ended with a brilliant cross from the Argentine. But the way the cross was met by Cristiano Ronaldo was a thing of beauty. He timed his run into the box perfectly and made a fantastic leap to meet the cross and set the Mestalla on fire with that fierce header. Adriano couldn’t manage to jump as high as him, and the keeper Pinto couldn’t save it despite trying his best.
Madridistas saw Ronaldo score an extra-time goal against their arch-rivals in a cup final, which was the first final of his Real Madrid career. That was enough to convince Madridistas that this Portuguese No.7 is one for the big nights.