Ronaldo double helps Real to 3-1 win over PSG

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid came from behind to beat Paris St Germain 3-1 Wednesday, with the holder roaring back to life in the Champions League last-16 first leg tie after a dismal domestic campaign. Adrien Rabiot smashed runaway Ligue 1 leader PSG ahead in the 33rd minute but Ronaldo levelled from the penalty spot on the stroke of halftime, scoring his 100th Champions League goal for Real to set up a pulsating second half. Ronaldo put Real in front in the 83rd minute with a scrappy strike from close range, following a cross by Marco Asensio, who made an impressive cameo appearance off the bench. Brazilian left back Marcelo further stretched the lead in the 86th, giving PSG a tough task in the second leg at the Parc des Princes on March 6.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the King of Champions League football. pic.twitter.com/YJoGUeVCPt

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 14, 2018

The tie pitted 12-time European champion Real against the Qatar-backed Parisians who have never gone beyond the quarter-final in the competition but boasted an attacking trio that cost over 460m euros ($572m) to assemble in transfer fee alone. The two squad's combined cost exceeded 1.2bn euros. Embattled Real coach Zinedine Zidane has faced serious questions this season with his side falling 17 points behind Liga leader Barcelona. He played a master stroke, however, in reverting to almost the same lineup that outclassed Juventus to win last year's final, leaving Gareth Bale out for Isco. Real had more of the ball and created the first clear chance when Ronaldo fired a shot against the face of PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

Nothing but respect between Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. ? #UCL pic.twitter.com/kntH9tBFGQ

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 14, 2018

The French side opened the scoring when Kylian Mbappe flew past two players to play a low pass towards Neymar in the box but Nacho's attempted clearance sent it towards Rabiot, who buried it straight into the middle of the net. Ronaldo fizzed a shot over the bar at the other end but made no mistake when Giovani lo Celso was penalised for tugging Toni Kroos' shirt in the area. PSG were denied a penalty when a shot from Rabiot appeared to strike Real captain Sergio Ramos on the arm, while Mbappe spurned their best chance of the second half when he fired straight at Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas. PSG coach Unai Emery turned his fire on Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi after the defeat but said his side could still turn the tie around back in the French capital.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 10+ Champions League goals for the seventh season running—no other player has done so in more than two pic.twitter.com/bgxFimYF2V

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 14, 2018

RESULTReal Madrid 3 (Ronaldo 45-P, 83, Marcelo 86) PSG 1 (Rabiot 33)