Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to navigation
Cristiano Ronaldo
Atlético Madrid's Juan Francisco Torres, left, tries to stop Cristiano Ronaldo in full flight. Photograph: Susana Vera/Reuters
Atlético Madrid's Juan Francisco Torres, left, tries to stop Cristiano Ronaldo in full flight. Photograph: Susana Vera/Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo's two penalties fire Real Madrid into Copa del Rey final

This article is more than 10 years old

Cristiano Ronaldo scored two first-half penalties as Real Madrid booked their place in the final of the Copa del Rey at the expense of city rivals Atlético with a 2-0 victory.

Real were already 3-0 up from the first leg and headed east to the Vicente Calderón with a huge degree of security.

They would have been expecting a rough ride, especially as Atlético are the holders of the trophy having beaten Los Blancos in last year's final, but it did not turn out that way.

The game was up with seven minutes gone as Ronaldo was felled by Javi Manquillo and got up to blast in the resulting spot-kick.

His goal served to fire up the home fans even more and they nearly had something to cheer when Raúl García hit the post from 25 yards with the goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, beaten.

But there was a deathly silence with 16 minutes gone as Gareth Bale traded passes with Isco, beat Emiliano Insúa for pace and was chopped down. Ronaldo stepped up to score from 12 yards.

The Portuguese's reward was to be hit by an object thrown from the crowd as he left the field at half-time but he came out for the second half and continued to torment Atlético's defence.

Chances came and went for both sides in the second half – Ronaldo stabbed a shot into a crowd of bodies and Atlético's striker Mario Suárez headed wide when well set – but the damage had long been done.

Barcelona or Real Sociedad, who play on Wednesday night, will meet Carlo Ancelotti's men in the final.

Comments (…)

Sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion

Most viewed

Most viewed