Cristiano Ronaldo scored a record equalling goal before exiting to injury as Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 3-0 on Wednesday to take a big step toward the Champions League semifinals.
Ronaldo netted his 14th goal of the season in Europe's top competition — equalling Lionel Messi's mark — to give Madrid a clear advantage ahead of next week's quarterfinal return leg in Germany. But it came at a price as the Portugal forward, who came into the first-leg nursing a sore left knee, came off in the 80th minute.
Gareth Bale scored early and Isco added another before the half hour mark at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
"Ronaldo has a problem with his knee but at this moment I'm not worried about it," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
'Don't want to clash'
Coach Jurgen Klopp has baulked at a reporter's suggestion Borussia Dortmund have little chance in the second leg.
"How could anyone transfer money to my account for my job, if I now turn around and say we're out of this?" snapped back Klopp after ZDF presenter Jochen Breyer implied Dortmund have no chance in the return.
"Sorry, but I don't want to go into the ZDF studio and again clash with someone," said the Dortmund boss. "But for every stupid questions, I can only give a stupid answer — as we all know." Dortmund were without suspended Poland striker Robert Lewandowski in Madrid.
{{/usCountry}}"Sorry, but I don't want to go into the ZDF studio and again clash with someone," said the Dortmund boss. "But for every stupid questions, I can only give a stupid answer — as we all know." Dortmund were without suspended Poland striker Robert Lewandowski in Madrid.
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