RESULT: Real Madrid beat APOEL Nicosia 6-0!
It was match-day 5/6 of the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League group stage. From the late night important fixtures, Liverpool was taking on Sevilla, Manchester City was taking on Feyenoord, Real Madrid played APOEL FC and Dortmund played Tottenham.
Firstly, I didn’t have all the games live on TV, so while I was watching Madrid’s game on television, I decided to stream the rest in multiple windows. If you too have the same issue, click here to know how to avail of 1xBet’s FREE live streaming facility.
APOEL FC had the first free kick opportunity but Cristiano and his men sensed an easy counter-attack opportunity and had their first shot on target within 2 minutes. Even though the keeper fumbled, they couldn’t find the net. The APOEL keeper then took a blow to the head but seemed steady enough to not be substituted.
As the first half progressed, I was mighty impressed with the chances that the home team created for themselves at the GSP Stadium, Nicosia. A win for Real tonight would’ve booked them a spot in the Round of 16 but they weren’t given too many chances in the first 20 minutes.
21st minute: Ronaldo spears in a free-kick from far, the keeper dives but he is just WIDE of the target.
GOAL! Modric scores an amazing goal! 1-0! #RealMadrid #HalaMadrid #RMUCL #UCL #ChampionsLeague #APOEL #Modric pic.twitter.com/iQDmkYShJ6
— Season Over October? (@fantastachi) November 21, 2017
39th minute: Well constructed move by Kroos & Ronaldo, who sent in a pass to a running Benzema and GOAAAAALL! He was on-side and didn’t have any problems in netting that ball. That would’ve been a boost to Benzema’s confidence, after not being seen much thus far.
Look how Ronaldo brought 3 defenders down to assist Benzema. Unreal vision.
pic.twitter.com/bjG71UGLss— Hamza (@Ronaldoverses) November 21, 2017
41st minute: Corner kick comes in and it’s another GOAAAAALL! just minutes later. A deflection from Varane in the box sends the ball to Nacho Fernandez who gets there just before the keeper does. It’s 3-0 to Madrid and surely it’s game over now in Nicosia.
GOAL Nacho!!! We are in the Round of 16! #halamadrid pic.twitter.com/nFBgFeqjeU
— Dr. Taha ? (@DrTahhaa) November 21, 2017
45th minute: It’s almost half-time but Real Madrid show no mercy GOAAAAALL! We’ve had three goals in less than ten minutes and it’s Benzema who finds the net yet again. Not the first time Madrid have scored from a counter-attack today. Ronaldo dances past the defenders in the box, and selflessly passes the ball to Benzema who just has to touch it to go 4-0 up!
Look how Ronaldo brought 3 defenders down to assist Benzema. Unreal vision.
pic.twitter.com/bjG71UGLss— Hamza (@Ronaldoverses) November 21, 2017
Stats at half-time (completely one-sided):
| STATS/TEAM | APOEL Nicosia | Real Madrid |
| Shots on target | 1 | 6 |
| Corners | 1 | 2 |
| Offsides | 2 | 1 |
| Possession | 35% | 65% |
The teams walked out for the second half and I’m sure APOEL would’ve been waiting for this encounter to end as Madrid look good enough to win 7-0 or even 8-0. These two teams met 7 times in the past and Madrid had a 100% record coming into this game.
GOAL! Who else but Ronaldo? 5-0! #RealMadrid #HalaMadrid #RMUCL #UCL #ChampionsLeague #APOEL #Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/DX6b8MGLb5
— Season Over October? (@fantastachi) November 21, 2017
By the way, that was Ronaldo’s 7th goal this season (5 matches), and his 112th in the UCL!
54th minute: APOEL is just inviting Madrid to score more. It’s Ronaldo again as the away team go 6-0 up. GOAAAAALL! A back pass from the defender and Benzema manages to steer it away from the keeper; Ronaldo then runs to it and skillfully swings it into the goal, that has no keeper in front of it. Phew!
GOAL! And that's his weak foot… 6-0! #RealMadrid #HalaMadrid #RMUCL #UCL #ChampionsLeague #APOEL #Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/XLtNYmMQdo
— Season Over October? (@fantastachi) November 21, 2017
APOEL:
CAN WE LEAVE? PLEASEEE!
The game slowed down a bit in the middle with the APOEL players taking their own sweet time and Madrid themselves not having created too many chances. However, they didn’t need to as the game was already won in the first half. Real Madrid have progressed to the 2017/18 Champions League Round of 16!
- Other results:
- Sevilla 3-3 Liverpool
- Manchester City 1-0 Feyenoord
- Napoli 3-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
- Monaco 1-4 Leipzig
- Dortmund 1-2 Tottenham
