Cristiano is a golden unicorn: 3 things we learned from Real win

Real Madrid beat Juventus 3-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday. Here are three takeaways from the match.

Real Madrid took a huge step toward the Champions League semifinals with a 3-0 victory against Juventus in Turin on Tuesday, thanks to another stunning European performance by Cristiano Ronaldo. Here are three takeaways from the match.

The Italians fall victim to their lack of pace

The Serie A isn’t exactly known for its pace and speed of play. Juventus have had success in Europe with a methodical and disciplined approach. When faced with a more direct and quicker-passing style than what they’re used to in their domestic league, Juven seem to be out of their depth.

On yet another occasion, Real Madrid took advantage of their superior speed of play as well as the pace of individual players. The opening goal, which set the stage for the remainder of the game, was a clear example of one team playing in a higher gear.

On the domestic front, Juve are a very good team. On the European stage, this team could have been an excellent team if they were facing competition from 10-20 years ago, when the game was played at a slower speed. As things stand, the slower pace is preventing the Bianconeri from being great.

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Cristiano Ronaldo with an early goal of the year entry

An overhead bicycle kick is the unicorn of great soccer goals. An overhead bicycle kick performed by the FIFA Player of the Year against one of the most legendary keepers of all time, under the bright lights of the Champions League in a matchup featuring two European giants is the golden unicorn of this year’s premier club competition.

Feast your eyes on this:

Real Madrid, the team to beat in the Champions League

Winners of three out of the last four Champions League trophies, Real Madrid don’t appear ready to relinquish their reign atop European soccer. The fact all is lost on the domestic front allows Real to fully focus on European glory yet again.  With their place in the semifinal all but booked and looking as good as ever, Real should be considered favorites to win the trophy.

Sergio Ramos’ suspension will occur in what should be a mere formality of a return leg, allowing the center-back to return fresh for the semifinals. Ronaldo appears to save his best for the European stage, alongside world-class players like Isco, Marcelo and Toni Kroos, who are peaking at just the right time.