MARCELO INSISTED REAL Madrid were never going to capitulate like fierce rivals Barcelona after the Champions League titleholders dramatically survived against Juventus.
Madrid kept their quest for a European three-peat alive with a 4-3 aggregate victory over Juventus in the quarter-finals, despite Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to the Italian champions.
Zinedine Zidane’s men were poised for the semi-finals following last week’s 3-0 win in Turin, only for Juve to mount a remarkable comeback in the return leg as they levelled the tie thanks to Mario Mandzukic’s double and Keylor Navas’s fumbled cross.
But Madrid managed to deny the rallying visitors after Lucas Vazquez was fouled by Medhi Benatia – Cristiano Ronaldo stepping up to convert the stoppage-time goal.
Marcelo – the captain in the absence of suspended skipper Sergio Ramos – could not help himself from having a dig at Barca, who surrendered a 4-1 first-leg advantage in a stunning 3-0 collapse against Roma on Tuesday.
“We should face and we did everything possible to go through,” the Brazil international full-back said.
“What happened to Barcelona wasn’t going to happen to us because we’re Real Madrid.”
There were dramatic scenes at the death when referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot after substitute Vazquez was brought down by Benatia.
Juve goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon angrily protested the decision before he was sent off for the first time of his storied career in the Champions League.
Asked about the penalty, Marcelo said: “The penalty was very clear.”
Madrid will face either Liverpool, Bayern Munich or Roma in the final four.
Brilliant brilliant Dan!!!
Super gutsy performance from a now triple Grand Tour stage winner! Chapeau!!!
Super ride by Dan. Some people had him written off and were suggesting retirement! Yeah right….
Great news, well done Dan.
Congrats Dan
@Declan Moran: Man with a Palestinian flag as his DP congratulating a cyclist who rides for Team Israel a team founded and based in Israel. Unbelievable
@Declan Moran: So you’ve a Palestinian flag as your display pic but you’ll congratule a cyclist who rides for a team Israel? How does that make sense?
@Declan Moran: How can a man with a Palestinian flag as his display picture congratulate a man riding for an Israeli team?
@Declan Moran: A man with a palestine flag congratulating a guy who rides for an Israeli team. Unbelievable
@Declan Moran: A man with a Palestine flag as his display picture congratulating a guy who rides for an Israeli team.
@Roy Dowling: Roy – what are you trying to say?
@Roy Dowling: you have spent way too much time on how you wanted to word this comment. I’m just going to type this and fade back into the darkness to show you gmhow it’s done.
Suiuper tuuuuure
G’d man the Dan !!
Excellent stuff. didn’t see it and even though I know the outcome, looking forward to the highlights.
@David O’Donaghue: Saw the headline before I watched the last 15km. Still worth it, lots of other drama going on and was a great show by Dan too!
Sport star of the year
Just brilliant.