Real Madrid narrowly escaped the very same destiny as their bitter rivals Barcelona on Wednesday to go on their Champions League title defence many thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo‘s interesting head and a controversial refereeing conclusion.

Just one particular working day right after Barcelona was surprised 3- at Roma to bow out of the competition on away goals right after 4-4 mixture result, Madrid was rescued by Ronaldo as he scored for the 11th consecutive time in the competition in his 150th Champions League physical appearance. The Spanish giants, even with falling 3-1 on the night at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, progressed with a 4-3 mixture triumph in the quarterfinal tie.

Madrid’s newspapers agreed that the last-gasp penalty awarded by referee Michael Oliver next Mehdi Benatia’s challenge on Lucas Vazquez was the right conclusion, while the Barcelona press vehemently disagreed of class.

Marca — It was a penalty!

“Madrid was only able to breathe in the 92nd minute when Lucas Vazquez was introduced down by Benatia and the referee awarded a penalty. A lot more than four minutes passed prior to the penalty was taken and Cristiano did not overlook. The (Madrid number) 7, in this situation, isn’t going to overlook. Only in that fast were the Madrid supporters able to leave powering the worst scare that one particular remembers in the historical past of Real Madrid.

“Juve’s protests led to Buffon remaining sent off. He obtained an ovation by the Bernabeu devoted, who were up to common even with the rigidity wherever you could slice the air with a knife and their team depended on Ronaldo’s foot. Cristiano scored. Juventus died with greatness. The only thing they did not do well is to not know that in the European Cup you will need to eliminate Madrid six times.”

AS – From Stress to the semifinals

“Penalty and collective insanity from Juventus. Oliver sent off Buffon, who bid farewell amidst shouts, in the worst feasible way, and Cristiano sealed the ticket to the semifinals. Madrid‘s worry attack ended in a nervous attack by Juve, who grazed heaven prior to falling down. What was remaining at the Bernabeu was a scare and a lesson.”

Diario Sport – The robbery of the century

“Year right after year, the very same story is recurring. Penalties in favour, sending offs, offsides… Once again, controversy and scandal go on to accompany Real Madrid on their travels in Europe. And not just in Europe but in Spain. This season Valencia experienced 3 penalties against them at the Bernabeu in the second spherical (of La Liga), Sergio Ramos was not punished for a handball when it was – at (Borussia) Dortmund (in the group levels) and they conceded a 3-1 with Cristiano in offside, in the Madrid vs PSG there was a prior foul made by CR7 on (Presnel) Kimpembe with the score at 1-1 (prior to the Portuguese set Madrid in advance) in the 3-1 win… And so on and so forth… Like this, like this Madrid wins!!”

El Mundo Deportivo – Master in refereeing

“Cristiano’s goal in the 98th minute avoided Madrid’s failure that came mighty near to abyss, to say goodbye to the season on April eleven. Juventus came really near to pulling off “a Roma”, that is, to an unthinkable comeback, executing the unattainable to access the semifinals. It was a highly controversial penalty presented against Benatia on Lucas Vazquez on the last play of the game. Cristiano did not fail against Szczesny, who replaced a sent-off Buffon, who could not think what was happening. His farewell from the Champions League was not involving the posts but leaving with a monumental exasperation towards the bench. An unfortunate and undeserved goodbye that not even the applause he obtained from the Bernabeu would alleviate.”

The Italian media were plainly on the other facet…

La Gazzetta dello Sport: Furious Juve. Anger and pride.

“No, you can not do it like that. This will generally go down as the night of regrets and anger in Madrid. Regrets for a desire which vanished only many thanks to a highly disputable penalty in the seventh minute of stoppage time, with Buffon sent off for protesting, and a Bernabeu terrorised by the worry of an elimination that experienced not even been viewed as. Regrets for an unattainable mission which they were carrying out, deservedly, because it was the most attractive, incisive and strongest Juve facet ever seen.”

Tuttosport: ‘Not like this!’ An immense Juve is eliminated

“No comeback completed, no Roma-type achievement. But in Madrid, Juve go near and only overlook out in the 97th minute to a penalty, with their captain sent off. Allegri’s men should have an enormous ‘thanks anyway’ because they played a big game in the return of this Champions League quarterfinal: 3- by way of Mandzukic, Mandzukic and Matuidi. To the dying, it was a domination of heroic resistance and with a superlative Buffon. Until the 93rd minute, that is.”

Il Corriere dello Sport: ‘What a robbery!’

“An inexistent penalty in the 93rd minute denies Juve a feat against Real: 1-3, Buffon sent off: the referee was a shame. Agnelli: All Italian golf equipment penalised. Juve received on the field and Andrea Agnelli received by a mile off it, blaming the referee – or instead all referees and the man who picks them, on one particular of the most amazing nights that the Champions League could maybe reserve.”

La Stampa: ‘The most attractive Juve stopped by a 97th-minute penalty’

“Ronaldo, it’s generally Ronaldo. A penalty from the fantastic Portuguese player deep into stoppage time extinguishes Juventus’ desire right after they surprisingly overturned the 3- defeat from the to start with the leg in Turin. Mandzukic’s brace and a goal from Matuidi inside a game which was technically and tactically practically perfect were pushing the Bianconeri towards extra-time, to consider to generate a qualification which experienced seemed compromised right after the to start with 90 minutes at the Allianz Stadium.

“In the stop, even though, the English referee Oliver remaining his mark on the game, awarding a dubious penalty for Real and, above all, brandishing a red card under the nose of Gigi Buffon. For the goalkeeper and captain of Juventus, there could not have been a bitterer ending to a legendary profession. It really is an authentic slap in the face because right after Roma’s achievement on Tuesday, Italian football was about to encounter one more of people unforgettable nights which make this sport