Real Madrid recorded an emphatic 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinals, as Cristiano Ronaldo inspired his side to a victory with a hat-trick against their derby rivals.
Atletico’s set piece weakness came back to haunt them again as Ronaldo opened the scoring from a ball that Atletico repeatedly failed to deal with. The visitors never really looked like they would threaten Real and were utterly dominated throughout the game.
Twitter was understandably full of praise for Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a second consecutive Champions League hat-trick on the night, having scored an astonishing five times against quarterfinal opponents Bayern Munich over two legs.
Together??? pic.twitter.com/BulXteEOyu
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) May 2, 2017
Cristiano Ronaldo – CL Records
Most goals: 103
Most home goals: 54
Most away goals: 47
Most KO stage goals: 52
Most assists: 31#UCL pic.twitter.com/ZEX3duClHJ— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) May 2, 2017
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more goals in the Champions League than 113 of the 135 teams to have played in it
Via @OptaJean pic.twitter.com/UkPJCCp83n
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) May 3, 2017
Heres a picture of Ronaldo watching his own replay of a goal he scored. Next level dominating life. pic.twitter.com/J88E5MzHRc
— KFC (@KFCBarstool) May 3, 2017
Messi Is GOAT guys make no mistake about that.
But RONALDO scoring 8 goals in 3 games vs Neuer & Oblak makes him GOATIER #HALAMADRID ⚪
— ? L U T H O ? (@Lutho__m) May 3, 2017
All Ronaldo did was score an innocent hat trick to help his team into the final.
He didn’t know he was gonna hurt so many feelings.
— Atika Lanre (@CarloLarenzo) May 3, 2017
Messi scored his 500th goal for Barcelona after 12 years
Ronaldo scores his 400th goal for Realmadrid after just 7 years!
the gap speaks ?— SRKs BATMAN (@Iam_Ineffable) May 3, 2017
See Ronaldo, when he has a terrific performance, he doesn’t hang his jersey on the wire. pic.twitter.com/apVx05eiNH
— Odondo (@fodexpressions) May 3, 2017
Why do some people constantly hate on Ronaldo? give him the credit and respect that he’s earned
— Josh ? (@jbeta__) May 3, 2017
When people complain that all Cristiano Ronaldo does is score goals, I don’t understand.
What do you want him to do?
Fry yam?
— VoN (@VoNwosu) May 3, 2017
Scary to think what price Ronaldo would go for now if he was 24. £80m seemed an awful lot at the time but it really wasn’t!
— Ander Rashford Miki (@Rashfordmiki) May 2, 2017
What a feeling ?? One @Cristiano Ronaldo ?pic.twitter.com/Uqh8CTSTAT
— Mrs. Alarcon (@nancycr7rma) May 2, 2017
There was praise for Jan Oblak as well, as the Atletico Madrid keeper tried his level best to keep his side in the game.
If anyone ever doubted how good Oblak is, that save from Varane confirmed it. Should be two nil to Real. If De Gea goes we have to get him
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) May 2, 2017
Oblak is what ManUtd fans think De Gea is
— Gau (@ConteBeBothered) May 2, 2017
Any Man U fans wondering who should they get to replace D D Gea? Oblak is the best out there! #Atletico
— Don Hutchison (@donhutch4) May 2, 2017
Only Jan Oblak can replace De Gea. https://t.co/jx9O0Hk1xz
— Ajoy (@Fadzrull) May 3, 2017
Many also pointed out how Antoine Griezmann was anonymous all game, although some leapt to the Frenchman’s defense.
Griezmann definitely has his head focused on Thursday’s epic battle against the mighty Celta Vigo.
— Keith Russell (@Keith_Russell) May 2, 2017
If Özil dropped the same performance that Griezmann has dropped today football twitter would be going tits.
— AntMcfc (@AntMcfc_) May 2, 2017
Saying we shouldn’t buy Griezmann because of tonight’s game is like saying we shouldn’t have bought Pogba based on his Euros.
— Trevor Phillips (@CopyOfOne) May 2, 2017
One average game and people saying Griezmann will be a flop. What a joke. That’s the definition of ‘knee-jerk’ reaction. Such naivety.
— Hesham Bilal-Hafiz (@hesham786) May 2, 2017
All those writers who headlines their stories earlier today with ‘Moveover Cristiano, It’s Griezmann’s time’… Very quiet lol
— M•A•J (@UltraSuristic_) May 2, 2017
To be honest, I’d forgotten Griezmann was playing. So quiet tonight… so far…
— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) May 2, 2017