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Madrid - Cristiano Ronaldo's sensational goal scoring record
was hailed as "unique" by boss Zinedine Zidane as his latest
hat-trick left Real Madrid on the verge of another Champions League final by
thrashing Atletico Madrid 3-0.
Ronaldo's treble was his second against Atletico this season
and second straight in the Champions League after hitting three past Bayern
Munich in the quarter-finals.
"Goal scoring is something he has over others, that is
what makes him unique," said Zidane.
Victory extended Real's hex over Atletico in the Champions
League over the past four seasons.
Real have eliminated Diego Simeone's men in each of the past
three years, including in the 2014 and 2016 finals, by the finest of margins.
However, there was a gulf between the sides this time round
as Ronaldo's 10th minute header opened the scoring.
And they struck twice more in the final 20 minutes to give
the scoreline the reflection Real's dominance deserved.
"The team was tremendous. I scored the goals but the
team was phenomenal from start to finish," said Ronaldo.
Victory also kept Real on course to become the first side to
retain the Champions League in 27 years.
"We played great, it is not easy to score three goals
(against Atletico)," added Zidane.
"The first half hour was fantastic, we had a lot of
chances to score the second, but we got it in the second-half.
"We are very happy with the performance. To score three
goals and most importantly in a (two-legged) tie keep a clean sheet at home is
very important."
Ronaldo is now just one goal behind Barcelona rival Lionel
Messi as the Champions League's top scorer this season with 10.
Seven of those have come in his last three games, though, as
he struck five of Madrid's six in seeing off Bayern 6-3 on aggregate in the
quarters.
"It's great to have a player like him," said Real
midfielder Toni Kroos.
"You can play good in defence, control midfield but in the end you need a player who will score and he did.
"He always does. He scored five in the quarter-final
and three today, so it's incredible for us."
There were contrasting emotions for Atletico boss Simeone.
However, he refused to give up hope of a miraculous comeback
on what will be the final European match at Atletico's Vicente Calderon next
Wednesday (May 10) before they move to a new stadium next season.
"More than ever I am calm," said Simeone.
"We have to do something impossible and being Atletico
Madrid we might be capable of it."
Barcelona pulled off the biggest comeback in Champions
League history earlier this season by overcoming a 4-0 first leg deficit
against Paris Saint-Germain.
And Simeone is clinging to the hope of something similarly
unexpected.
"We need to forget about this game.
"It seems impossible, but it is football and football has these unexpected things that make it marvellous.
"Until the last drip of hope is gone, we will give it everything we have."
