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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Football: Ronaldo heroics spark Madrid street party

Cristiano Ronaldo was once again hailed as Real Madrid's hero as fans crammed into the club's Santiago Bernabeu stadium and streets across the Spanish capital to wildly celebrate a record 12th European Cup win on Saturday.

Football: Ronaldo heroics spark Madrid street party
Real Madrid fans celebrate the team's win on Plaza Cibeles in Madrid. Photo: Oscar del Pozo/AFP
While Ronaldo's double sentenced Juventus to a comprehensive 4-1 defeat at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, nearly 2,000 kilometres away over 70,000 supporters congregated to watch the match of eight giant screens erected on the Bernabeu turf.
 
“Year after year he is showing he is the best player in the world, the best player in history,” said Real fan Raul Alvarez, 25, of Ronaldo whilst proudly drapping a Madrid flag on his back.
 
“Every year we are kings of Europe.”
 
 
As well as solidifying their status as the most successful club in the history of the competition, Madrid completed a first La Liga and Champions League double for 59 years and became the first side to retain the trophy in the Champions League era.
 
Unlike in previous years, the Madrid players will hold off on their procession through the heart of the Spanish capital until Sunday evening.
 
However, thousands still poured onto the streets to celebrate around the Cibeles fountain in the city centre, a traditional meeting point for Real's celebrations.
 
“It's incredible, I'm dreaming,” said 64-year-old Teresa Decarlini, who had travelled from the southern Spanish city of Cadiz to take in the atmosphere.
 
“Two Champions Leagues in a row. We are unique.”
 
 
However, the festivities were overseen by a huge security presence with police shutting off traffic on the roads leading to Cibeles and searching bags before allowing fans through barriers.
 
Back at the Bernabeu, Real coach Zinedine Zidane was also washed with praise as the Frenchman continued his meteoric rise just 18 months into his first role in senior management.
 
Zidane's sensational strike as a player in the 2002 final was greeted with the loudest cheer as all of Real's goals from their 11 previous final wins were played before kick-off.
 
“Zidane was one of the best players to pass through Madrid and now he is showing that he knows how to manage the squad perfectly,” added Alvarez. “He is showing he is the best coach in the world.”
 
“He made great substitutions,” said Jordi Perez, 27, as he supported himself on crutches, but didn't contemplate missing out on watching the final at the Bernabeu.
 
“He knows how to change a game.”
 
 
Ronaldo's opener to set another historic mark as the first man to score in three Champions League finals sparked euphoric scenes.
 
“People doubt him, but he is out of this world, he is a machine and, from those I have seen, the best in Madrid's history,” said another jubilant fan, Diego Torulano.
 
Mario Mandzukic's spectacular acrobatic overhead kick to level seven minutes later temporarily silenced the Bernabeu.
 
However, Real and Ronaldo weren't to be denied, as further goals from Casemiro, Ronaldo and Marco Asensio meant the final 20 minutes were played out to a carnival atmosphere with chants of “champions” and “viva España.”

FOOTBALL

Black Lives Matter: Marcelo ‘takes the knee’ to celebrate Real Madrid win

Marcelo celebrated by taking a knee as Real Madrid returned from three months away following the coronavirus suspension by beating Eibar 3-1 on Sunday.

Black Lives Matter: Marcelo 'takes the knee' to celebrate Real Madrid win
Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Marcelo kneels on the field to celebrate his goal. Photo: AFP

After scoring Madrid's third goal in the 37th minute, Marcelo dropped onto his left knee and raised his clinched right fist into the air, apparently in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Madrid's win may have come at a cost as Eden Hazard and Sergio Ramos were both substituted early in the second half and were seen with ice packs strapped to them while sitting in the stands.

Hazard was making his first start since February and his ice pack appeared to be around his troublesome right ankle, which he injured in November and February, before undergoing surgery in March.

“We knew Eden would lack a bit of rhythm playing the whole game,” coach Zinedine Zidane said.

“He played well for an hour, he took a knock which was a scare but at half-time he said he was fine. He is happy with what he has done and we are happy with him.”

Madrid's win means they reduce the gap behind league leaders Barcelona back to two points after the Catalans thrashed Real Mallorca 4-0 on Saturday.    

Madrid struck in the fourth minute after a superb strike from Toni Kroos before Ramos tucked away Hazard's pass on the counter-attack.    

Eibar pulled one back in the second half through Pedro Bigas but never found the second to make Madrid nervous, despite a brief spell of pressure.    

Before going off, Hazard was busy, the Belgian involved in all three goals.    

His weaving run through midfield led to Kroos' shot and it was his effort that was cleared out to Marcelo, who drove into the corner.    

After a miserable opening season in Spain, it was a bright start for Hazard, who could now redeem himself by playing a crucial role in the run-in, if he can stay injury-free.

Perhaps even more impressive though was Karim Benzema, who linked up brilliantly with Hazard and was unfortunate not to get the goal an excellent all-round performance deserved.

Gareth Bale started on the bench but came on and could start against Valencia on Thursday.

Zidane is likely to rotate heavily over the next few weeks, with the games coming thick and fast.

New surroundings

Madrid's coach will also have been pleased to get off to a positive start in their new training ground home, which was the 100th different stadium to be used in La Liga.

They will be playing all their remaining home matches at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium to allow renovation work at the Santiago Bernabeu to continue this summer.

“We know the situation, it's all a bit strange,” said Zidane. “But the players are all champions and we have to get our heads around it.”    

Barca had needed less than two minutes to score against Mallorca and Madrid were only slightly later, as Hazard broke through Eibar's midfield and Casemiro set Benzema free.

The ball was cleared to Kroos on the edge of the area, who struck first time, sidefooting perfectly into the far top right-hand corner.   

Ramos doubled their advantage after starting, and finishing, a ruthless counter-attack. In between, Benzema and Hazard were involved again, the former picking out the latter, who generously gave Ramos an open goal.

Marcelo put Eibar all but out of sight before half-time as Benzema played through for Hazard and his shot spilled out to Marcelo to lash into the corner.

Eibar were better after the break as Edu Exposito forced a full-stretch save from Thibaut Courtois and then Sergi Enrich headed against the crossbar. 

Bigas did score after diverting in Pedro Leon's shot but Madrid held on.    

Earlier, Diego Costa scored his first goal since October but Atletico Madrid missed the chance to move into La Liga's top four by drawing 1-1 away at Athletic Bilbao.

Costa celebrated by holding up the shirt of Virgina Torrecilla, a player from Atletico's women's team, who underwent surgery on a brain tumour last month.

His equaliser came two minutes after the excellent Iker Muniain had given Bilbao the lead towards the end of the first half and neither side could find a winner at the empty San Mames, with Atletico defender Santiago Arias missing the best chance late on.

Diego Simeone's side stay sixth, level on points with Getafe and one behind Real Sociedad, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Osasuna.

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