
Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo asked for immunity from the boos of the ever-demanding Santiago Bernabeu crowd after his hat-trick against Bayern Munich on Tuesday fired Real Madrid into the semi-finals of the Champions League for a seventh consecutive season.
Ronaldo's double in Munich had given Real a 2-1 lead in the first leg and after a couple of wayward shots in the first half had provoked whistles from the home supporters, the prolific Portuguese proved the difference in an eventual 4-2 win over Bayern after extra-time, setting up a 6-3 aggregate victory.
His header cancelled out Robert Lewandowski's goal late in the second half and he then finished off Bayern with strikes in either half of extra-time after Sergio Ramos' own goal had levelled the scores on aggregate, although his last two goals were from offside positions.
His third goal of the night and fifth of the tie saw him become the first player to reach 100 goals in the Champions League, and the four-time World Player of the Year put his finger to his lips to the supporters who had booed him earlier.
"I'm not asking them to name streets after me, the only thing I ask is that they don't boo me here," Ronaldo told a Spanish TV station.
"I want fans to stop booing me because I always give my best and even when I don't score I try to help Real Madrid."
Manager Zinedine Zidane lavished praise on the team's all-time top scorer but reminded Ronaldo that Real players had to get used to the relentless pressure from supporters of the 11-time European champions. "Perhaps the fans won't boo him any more, but this is the Bernabeu and it can happen from time to time and he knows that," said the former France captain.
"The only thing he did was to stay calm and he proved himself on the pitch. There are few players who are always there in the key moments, and the fans will be grateful for what Cristiano has done here.
"He always knows that when there's an important occasion, he's going to be there and he showed it again on Tuesday. What he did is outside any sort of category. There are few players who can do what Ronaldo has done and we all know that."
Real were pushed all the way by Bayern, who battled to send the tie into extra time thanks to Robert Lewandowski's penalty and an own goal from Sergio Ramos.
However, after Arturo Vidal was sent off, Ronaldo hit the century mark in Europe's top club competition on 104 minutes and completed his hat-trick five minutes later.
Bayern were left incensed, though, as Ronaldo's second and third goals were clearly offside. "To score six goals against a team like Bayern Munich isn't easy so we deserved to go through," the Portuguese striker told Spanish TV station Antena 3.
"Real Madrid are Real Madrid, we are used to suffering and we are happy to be in the semis once again."
Marco Asensio gave a night of high-class action the finale it deserved with a sensational solo goal to rub salt in Bayern wounds."The (red) card for Arturo wasn't a card and then the two goals from Cristiano were offside so clearly we are not happy," said Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti.
"In a quarter final you have to put a better referee, or it is the moment to introduce video refereeing, which is what Uefa are trying because there are too many errors."
The German champions had been beaten on their previous four trips to Spain without even scoring a goal. However, knowing they needed at least two to progress, Ancelotti's men started on the front foot and were left to rue a huge opportunity just eight minutes in.
Marcelo made a miraculous block to deny Thiago Alcantara before former Real winger Arjen Robben scuffed into the side- netting on his trusted left foot.
Bayern gave the travelling 4,000 from Germany something to cheer when play resumed. Another goalline clearance by Marcelo from Robben's dinked effort temporarily saved Madrid. But the hosts didn't escape moments later when referee Viktor Kassai pointed to the spot as Robben went down under a challenge from Casemiro.
Lewandowski stayed cool under the pressure and converted from the spot for his 39th goal of the season.
Ronaldo looked to have eased Madrid's nerves when he steered Casemiro's cross into the far corner 14 minutes from time.
However, Real's celebrations were very short-lived as just a minute later the ball ricocheted around their box and Ramos turned into his own net.
The balance of a topsy-turvy tie turned Madrid's way again with five minutes remaining as just as in the first leg, Bayern were reduced to 10 men when Vidal saw a second yellow card for chopping down Asensio.