By DAN KARELL
As he seems to do so often these days, Cristiano Ronaldo provided all the goal-scoring that Real Madrid needed on Wednesday in a matchup against defending Italian champions Juventus.
The Portuguese star opened his scoring account in the fourth minute after rounding Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon before finishing from the penalty spot in the 29th minute to give Real Madrid a lead they wouldn’t relinquish as they won their third UEFA Champions League match in a row, 2-1, against ten-man Juventus. Ronaldo’s brace gives him 18 goals in 12 games since the start of September for both club and country in all competitions.
Not to be out-shined by Ronaldo, who he will face in the UEFA World Cup qualifying playoff round next month, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored four goals as Paris Saint-Germain ran riot in a 5-0 win at Anderlecht.
Ibrahimovic scored his first goal in the 17th minute with a tap-in thanks to a great cross from Edinson Cavani on the right. The Swedish international doubled PSG’s lead five minutes later with an excellently executed back-heel past the Anderlecht goalkeeper. Poor defending in the 35th minute allowed Ibrahimovic to score his third of the night when he latched onto a free ball from more than 30 yards away and powered it into the top corner.
In the 62nd minute, the 32-year-old forward scored his fourth and his team’s fifth with a precise shot in the box that deflected in off the post.
David Moyes likely breathes a sigh of relief this evening as Manchester United defeated Real Sociedad, 1-0, in a nervy match. The game will be remembered more for the missed chances on both sides, as Man United peppered the Sociedad goal at every opportunity while Antoine Griezmann hit a dazzling free kick that cannoned off the crossbar.
Here’s a full rundown of Wednesday’s results:
Group A
Manchester United 1-0 Real Sociedad
Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
Group B
Galatasaray 3-1 FC Copenhagen
Real Madrid 2-1 Juventus
Group C
Benfica 1-1 Olympiakos
Anderlecht 0-5 Paris-Saint Germain
Group D
Bayern Munich 5-0 Viktoria Plzen
CSKA Moscow 1-2 Manchester City
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What did you think of these results? Which of these matches stood out to you? Impressed with Real Madrid’s victory? Did you see Man United winning? What did you think of Ibrahimovic’s performance?
Share your thoughts below.
best SWEDISH/NORDIC Striker of all time
Henrik Larsson
Ibrahimovic is a beast, and quickly becoming my favorite non-American player. It will be a crim if he’s not at the World Cup.
Ibrahimovic is a freak.
Ibra’s 3rd goal was hit 72mph. wow.
I’ve read it was clocked at 150 km/h which is 93mph.
I’ve heard it reached Mach1
It’s over 9000!!
I’ve heard it does car commercials – in Japan.