Champions League 2017/18: Magical Ronaldo creates another record, Real beat Dormund 3-2

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Real Madrid edge out Dortmund 3-2. Image Source: Real Madrid

Internet Desk: Real Madrid’s star forward, Cristiano Ronaldo became the very first player in the history of football as he scored in all six games of group stages of the Champions League in a single season. With his help, Spanish giants Real Madrid won a nail-biter against Borussia Dortmund 3-2 on Wednesday.

Lucas Vazquez scored the winner for the home side on the 81st minute of the game to take the title holders to the last 16 as the runners-up in Group H. English side, Tottenham Hotspur has topped the group.

CR7 scored his ninth goal in his sixth UCL appearance this season with a brilliant long ranger after Borja Mayoral’s opening goal to give the current champions Real Madrid a 2-0 lead in just 12 minutes.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continued his excellent record against Madrid with a quickfire double either side of half-time to bring Dortmund level.

But despite Vazquez’s late strike, the Germans drop into the Europa League with a record low two points thanks to their better goal difference over APOEL Nicosia, who were defeated 3-0 at Spurs.

Real were, though, hit by a fresh injury blow as French international defender Raphael Varane limped off just before half-time holding his left leg.

Zinadine Zidane now faces a defensive crisis ahead of the visit of Sevilla on Saturday with captain Sergio Ramos, right-back Dani Carvajal and holding midfielder Casemiro all suspended.

“With Rafa he has done some damage to himself, but we will see tomorrow when we do the scans as always,” said Zidane. “He won’t be there Saturday that is for sure. We have to look for solutions.”

Zidane made six changes from the side that started Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Athletic Bilbao, but the hosts still made a flying start.

Ronaldo’s fine through ball just evaded Isco, but fell perfectly into the path of Mayoral and the 20-year-old kept his cool to chip the onrushing Roman Burki for his first Champions League goal.

By contrast, Ronaldo had his 114th in the competition moments later as he lined up a sumptuous strike from 25 yards.

However, the warning signs of a Dortmund recovery were in evidence as the first half wore on as Varane had to make last-ditch challenges to deny Aubameyang and Shinji Kagawa.

Aubameyang has spoken openly of his desire to play for Madrid one day and did his case of a dream move no harm with two classy finishes either side of half-time.

Once Varane limped off, Aubameyang was left free inside the box to plant a diving header inside the far corner two minutes before half-time.

And just four minutes after the break Dortmund were level as Aubameyang dinked a lovely finish over Keylor Navas after his initial effort had been saved by the Madrid goalkeeper for his fifth goal in his last four appearances against Real.

“He is great player and with his speed he is always a dangerous player,” said Dortmund boss Peter Bosz. “I hope he stays a long time with us.”

Ronaldo was wrongly denied his second of the night by the offside flag as he prodded home from close range.

But moments later Madrid did grab the winner when Vazquez’s effort trundled past Burki, who was slow to react as the ball nestled in the bottom corner.

Dortmund should still have earned a share of the points, but Kagawa blasted a glorious chance over the bar as the German giants’ run without a win in the Champions League or Bundesliga stretched to 11 games.

“The performances have to improve,” admitted former Ajax coach Bosz, whose job is under serious threat.

“We started very badly, but after we showed how well we can play and the return of some injured players in December gives us hope for the future.”

Here are the results from Wednesday’s matches:

Liverpool 7-0 Spartak Moscow

Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 Manchester City

Porto 5-2 AS Monaco

Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 APOEL Nicosia

Maribor 1-1 Sevilla

Feyenoord 2-1 Napoli

RB Leipzig 1-2 Besiktas

Real Madrid 3-2 Borussia Dortmund

Here’s what those results mean for the tables:

Group E

Liverpool: 12

Sevilla: 9

Spartak Moscow: 6

Maribor: 3

Group F

Manchester City: 15

Shakhtar Donetsk: 12

Napoli: 6

Feyenoord: 3

 Group G

Besiktas: 14

Porto: 10

RB Leipzig: 7

AS Monaco: 2

 Group H

Tottenham Hotspur: 16

Real Madrid: 13

Borussia Dortmund: 2

APOEL Nicosia: 2

With inputs from AFP.