UEFA Champions League
Result: Real Madrid 3 - 0 APOEL
Date: 13 September 2017
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
A Cristiano Ronaldo brace and Sergio Ramos' overhead kick earned Real Madrid a comfortable 3-0 win to kick start their UEFA Champions League title defense.
Real Madrid are on course for a hat-trick of UEFA Champions League titles and their bid for another title started at home against APOEL Nicosia.
The hosts got off to a good start and looked in the mood for their usually dominant performances as they created a number of chances at the beginning.
The deadlock came through a great counter-attack that saw Gareth Bale cross into the box and found Cristiano Ronaldo who blasted the ball home from close range.
Los Blancos were dealt a blow when Mateo Kovacic had to be substituted due to injury and was replaced by a more than competent Toni Kroos.
The first half ended with Real Madrid leading 1-0.
Real Madrid talisman Ronaldo thought he had doubled his side's lead just after the restart as he side volleyed a cross from Daniel Carvajal but his effort was deemed to have bounced off the line from the crossbar.
It did not take long for the Portuguese international to double his tally. Real Madrid were awarded a penalty for a handball in the box and Ronaldo duly converted to double his sides lead.
Real Madrid threatened to run away with the contest when Marcelo's cross was met by Gareth Bale who's deflected header was acrobatically finished by defender Sergio Ramos to give his side a 3-0 lead at the hour mark.
Cristiano Ronaldo was searching for the hat-trick and thought he had it when he tucked away a low cross from Luka Modric only to be disappointed by the linesman's offside flag.
3-0 is how it ended as Real Madrid got their title defense off to a good start.
