Ranking Cristiano Ronaldo’s five greatest games for Real Madrid

2. Real Madrid 4-2 FC Bayern, UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 2016/17

In the quarterfinals of the Champions League 2016/17 season, Real Madrid hosted FC Bayern for the second leg with an away goal advantage from the first leg in Munich that Los Blancos won 2-1. Real Madrid were favorites to advance. If they held on to whatever advantage they had they would have qualified for the semis. Nonetheless, the man in white decided to put on a show that the fans could never forget.

The first half stayed goalless. But, there was a lot of action to savour, the likes of Arturo Vidal and Robert Lewandowski stayed constant threat to Navas’s goal while on the other end, Benzema, Kroos, Carvajal, and Ronaldo registered venomous attempts that Manuel Neuer evaded. The second half also found the game at a similar tempo. Marcelo was forced to make a clearance off the goalline by Arjen Robben at 50 minutes and that was the closest either team came to scoring.

Just a minute later, Casemiro brought Robben down inside the box resulting in a spot-kick that Robert Lewandowski converted in expert fashion to bring the aggregate score to level. Real still were advancing on away goals. But, Cristiano had to make things clear. At 77 minutes Casemiro found Cristiano placed perfectly in the box to rectify his mistake. Cristiano headed home into the bottom right corner and Real were ahead.

But, the drama was far from over. Nacho and Ramos combined in sloppy play to concede an own-goal even before a minute had passed to Ronaldo’s goal.  The energy of the players on the pitch went up by a gear as silly fouls found their way into the game. In the 83rd minute, Arturo Vidal was sent off for a crazy challenge on Marco Asensio. The final whistle was blown and the match was into the extra time.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his second of the game in the 103rd minute when Ramos found his inside the box and Ronaldo set himself up for a half volley past Neuer. Five minutes later, courtesy of some sloppy Bayern defending, Marcelo found Cristiano in the open and he slotted home his third. Asensio put the finishing touches on a night that clearly belonged to Cristiano Ronaldo, with an expertly placed shot to the far post, drilled low and sharp it found its way into the bottom corner and Real Madrid cruised into the semis.