Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Ronaldo, Benzema braces as Real Madrid rout Apoel Nicosia


Cristiano Ronaldo set another Champions League record as holders Real Madrid sealed their place in the knockout stages with a comprehensive victory against Apoel Nicosia.
Zinedine Zidane's team had the match won by half-time with goals from Luka Modric, Fernandez Nacho and a Karim Benzema double. Cristiano Ronaldo got his customary goals early in the second half as his two strikes saw him reach 18 goals in the competition in 2017 -- more than any single player in a calendar year.
However Madrid, who have lifted the trophy in each of the past two years, will only qualify as runners-up in Group H after Tottenham came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in Germany to ensure top spot.

The final match day next month will see the Europa League qualification spot contested between Apoel and Dortmund, who both have two points from their five matches. Apoel will travel to Tottenham while Dortmund face Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo worked Apoel goalkeeper Nauzet Perez early on and narrowly missed the target with a couple of long-range efforts before Modric made the breakthrough after 23 minutes with a low strike that Perez could only palm into the side of the net.
Real were sloppy in the Madrid derby at the weekend and there had been signs of a continuation of that prior to the goal. Apoel almost punished them just before the half-hour mark but Roland Sallai's header dropped just wide.

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