Juventus overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit with three goals in 61 minutes and the tie was heading towards extra-time when referee Michael Oliver awarded Real Madrid a controversial penalty.
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It’s barely believable but the Bernabeu served up more drama last night than Roma managed on Tuesday when they came back from the dead to defeat Barcelona. Juventus’ first two goals came with headers from inside the area, and the third followed a blunder by goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Gianluigi Buffon, on perhaps his final Champions League appearance before retirement, was sent off for his protests but Ronaldo stayed calm and slammed the spot-kick past substitute goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny into the top corner.
A day after seeing Spanish rival Barcelona blow a three-goal advantage against Roma in Italy, Madrid almost did the same.
It was helter-skelter stuff, with both teams shaking at the back.
Unsettled on the backline due to the absence of the suspended Sergio Ramos, the Blancos conceded a goal in the second minute when Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic fired home on a cross from Sami Khedira.
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane also had little sympathy for the Italians.
On the hour-mark, the visitors drew level in the tie.
The tension kept cranking higher and higher, as both teams knew one mistake could prove fatal.
But Oliver blew, Buffon exploded and Ronaldo hit the net. The Portuguese’s moment seemed to have passed – but there was still time for one last twist in the tale.
We must remember that we beat Real Madrid 3-0 on their own turf and only a insane person would’ve believed that going in. Well, a new video has emerged on Twitter that tracks the 33-year-old’s every move before the spot kick was taken and it shows his focus was supreme.
The quarter-finals brought yet more magnificent strikes in Europe’s leading club competition, but which do you think was best?
But things were to turn out differently.
La Gazzetta dello Sport take a slightly more measured view as they go with “the anger and the pride” in reference to the penalty and Juventus’ overall performance.
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Meanwhile, in the Spanish press, a different approach was taken, as Marca made it clear it thought the right decision was made.
