Ronaldo’s Hat-trick Sends Juventus into Q’final

Ronaldo’s Hat-trick Sends Juventus into Q’final

*Man City Hammers Schalke 7-0 to reach knock out phase

Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Atletico Madrid as Juventus advanced to the UEFA Champions League last eight last night in Turin.

The competition’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 124 goals opened his account with a close-range header from Federico Bernardeschi’s cross.

He nodded in a second after the break from Joao Cancelo’s delivery.

And his third came from a penalty after Bernardeschi was fouled in the area.

It was Operation Cristiano Ronaldo in all its glory.

Without the Champions League trophy since 1996, Juventus turned to the man who has caused them – and so many others – so much heartache and a man who is never far away from the trophy.

Just look at Real Madrid without him. Stunned by Ajax. But for Juventus, they are profiting immensely. Having fallen flat in Madrid, there was never a worry he would miss the mark again.

Elsewhere last night, Manchester City thrashed Schalke 7-0 in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie to confirm their passage to the quarter-finals.

Sergio Aguero opened the scoring from the spot and added a second three minutes later when Raheem Sterling’s back-heel set him up from six yards.

Leroy Sane drilled in the third and picked up a hat-trick of assists after the break as City ran riot.

Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Gabriel Jesus also scored.

After slotting into the far corner in the first half, Sane set-up Sterling with a wonderful curling cross that the England forward smashed into the top corner.

Silva pounced on Sane’s cut-back to make it 5-0 before substitute Foden rounded the goalkeeper after he was played in by the German winger. Jesus made sure he had a slice of the pie with a late curling strike.

City, who came from behind in the first leg in Germany to win 3-2, were knocked out in the quarter-finals of last year’s competition by Liverpool and have never won the Champions League.

The draw for the last eight will take place on Friday at 11:00 GMT.

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