Dortmund: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in his 150th European appearance to give Real Madrid a 3-1 victory at Borussia Dortmund, their first against them in Germany, and make it two wins out of two matches in their Champions League Group H.
Ronaldo, who has now scored 411 goals in his 400 Real Madrid appearances, grabbed their second of the evening after a fine effort from Welshman Gareth Bale, who had put them ahead with a superb volley in the 18th minute.
The Spaniards punished the hosts for playing too high and found the gaps they needed to score. The Portuguese killed off the match, thumping the ball past keeper Roman Buerki in the 79th minute.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang briefly pulled one back in the 54th but the German club could not replicate last season’s two-goal comeback to draw.
“We knew after so many years we’d finally win here one day and today (Tuesday) was the day,” said Real captain Sergio Ramos. “It was tough but we showed our personality and authority. We want to rediscover our best and I think tonight was a step in the right direction.”
It was always expected to be a rollercoaster game and the two sides did not disappoint, shooting instantly out of the blocks.
After Real Madrid had repelled a dangerous cutback from Dortmund’s Jeremy Toljan, it was the turn of Daniel Carvajal to respond with a fine solo effort and Ronaldo also came close a little later. They finally broke through in the 18th minute when Bale raced into space and perfectly volleyed in a smooth Carvajal cross.
Dortmund did not back down though and Raphael Varane had to come to the rescue right after the restart, clearing a Andriy Yarmolenko cross on the goal line.
It was Real who scored again when Bale was given far too much space to cut in and find Ronaldo in the heart of the box in the 50th.
reuters
