Football
Borussia Dortmund 1-3 Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale earn win
Gareth Bale scored a stunning opener
A stunning Gareth Bale volley and two Cristiano Ronaldo goals earned Real Madrid victory in a pulsating Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund.
Bale broke the deadlock in the 18th minute when he struck a precise volley past a helpless Roman Burki, who could not react to the pace of the shot.
Ronaldo doubled the lead just after the break when he turned a Bale cross home from close range, as Real Madrid looked like they would ease to victory.
Dortmund quickly sprung into life as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reduced the deficit five minutes later, when his clever movement saw him earn enough space to allow him to poke home a Gonzalo Castro cross.
As the game was further stretched in the closing stages, Ronaldo took full advantage with 11 minutes to go as he coasted into the area, before smashing a low shot beyond Burki at the goalkeeper’s near post.
The pace of the opening stages between the two European giants was relentless as both teams looked to attack. Dortmund’s lack of pace at the back was their flaw, repeatedly allowing Real Madrid to get beyond the centre-backs.
A game of such high quality was the fitting setting for Bale’s volley, as the Welshman side-footed a Dani Carvajal cross into the top corner from the edge of the area with such ferocity that the goalkeeper could barely move a hand before it hit the back of the net.
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang pulled one back for Dortmund
After the break it was more of the same for Real Madrid as Ronaldo was the beneficiary of Bale’s fine work down the left-wing, when the former Spurs man laid the ball into the path of his onrushing team-mate who netted the second for Real.
With the game seemingly going away from Dortmund they found some energy to get Dortmund back into the game, as Aubameyang found space in the box from where he steered an in-swinging Castro delivery into the net while under pressure.
Real would not be halted as Ronaldo ensured they could have a comfortable final 10 minutes when he was played in by the imperious Luka Modric, allowing Ronaldo to hammer the ball in from eight yards and complete the victory.
