Good evening and welcome to Nigerianeye's live commentary of the first leg of the Champions League semi-final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid from the Bernabeu.
It is the fourth season in succession that these two teams are meeting in the latter stage of the Champions League, and Atletico are yet to claim a victory over Los Blancos during the recent run.
Indeed, Real Madrid have beaten Atletico in two of the last three Champions League rivals, and Los Blancos are attempting to become the first team to successfully defend the trophy in the modern era.
Follow our live minute-by-minute coverage of the action below.
OFFICIAL LINE-UPS
REAL MADRID: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos; Isco, Benzema, Ronaldo
ATLETICO MADRID: Oblak; Lucas, Savic, Godin, Luis; Gabi, Saul, Koke; Carrasco, Gameiro, Griezmann
The referee brings the second period to a close with Real Madrid recording a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final courtesy of a hat-trick from Ronaldo. What a performance once again! Thanks for joining our live coverage of the match!
90 min+4 FULL-TIME: Real Madrid 3-0 Atletico Madrid
90 min+2 We are into the second of three additional minutes at the Bernabeu.
90 min+1 Asensio looks to find Ronaldo with a cross from the left, but Koke does enough to turn the ball behind for a corner. Ronaldo would have fancied a fourth if that cross found the number seven.
89 min Modric misses the post with a volley as Real Madrid threaten to score a fourth. Atletico have fallen apart in the last 10 minutes, and they are staring Champions League elimination in the face.
87 min Oh my word! Another hat-trick! Real Madrid lead 3-0 at the Bernabeu as Ronaldo turns the ball home from close range after a brilliant run and cross from Vasquez. What a machine!
86 min GOAL! Real Madrid 3-0 Atletico Madrid (Ronaldo)
85 min Pass, pass, pass from Real Madrid as the minutes tick on at the Bernabeu.
83 min BOOKING! Savic (Atletico) is booked for a late tackle on Ronaldo.
83 min One goal for Atletico, and the semi-final would have a different complexion ahead of the second leg at the Vicente Calderon. As it stands, however, Real Madrid would be the overwhelming favourites.
81 min CHANCE! Wonderful from Asensio as the Real Madrid youngster drives down the left before picking out Vasquez, but the Spaniard turns wide of the post from inside the Atletico box!
79 min Koke, who is on a yellow, brings Modric to the deck, and the Spaniard is fortunate to escape a second booking. Atletico really need to find something in the final 10 minutes of this match.
78 min REAL MADRID SUB! Lucas Vasquez replaces Benzema.
76 min Gaitan delivers a dangerous free kick into the Real Madrid box, but again the whistle goes for a free kick. The home side are preparing to make their third and final change of the night here.
74 min Real Madrid double their lead in the 73rd minute as Ronaldo pops up with his second of the night. The ball falls kindly for the number seven after smart work from Benzema, and the Portugal international smashed the ball into the back of the net. What a massive goal that might be!
73 min GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Atletico Madrid (Ronaldo)
73 min Savic challenges Ramos inside the Real Madrid box, but the referee blows for a free kick, allowing the home side to escape a dangerous situation. Atletico are on the front foot at the moment.
71 min Little under 20 minutes of football remaining at the Bernabeu, and Real Madrid still lead 1-0 courtesy of Ronaldo's header in the first period. You still get the feeling that there is another goal in this match, however, especially with Atletico's willingness to commit numbers forward here.
68 min ATLETICO SUB! Correa replaces Carrasco for Atletico.
68 min REAL MADRID SUB! Marco Asensio replaces Isco for Real Madrid.
67 min Kroos finds Benzema inside the Atletico box, but his cross is straight over the crossbar.
65 min We are entering the stage of the match where Real Madrid boss Zidane will be considering changes. James Rodriguez, Morata and Asensio are all capable of making a difference in the final third, although it would be harsh to take off Isco, who has been heavily involved in the second period.
63 min Isco shows super feet inside the Atletico half before looking to find Benzema with a chipped pass, but Oblak is on hand to claim. Ronaldo's goal continues to separate the two teams in Madrid.
61 min Little under 30 minutes of the first leg remaining at the Bernabeu, and Atletico are enjoying a really good period as they continue to force the issue in the final third. Koke decides to have a go from distance, but his effort was always moving wide of the post. Still 1-0 Real Madrid in the capital.
58 min ATLETICO SUBS! Torres and Gaitan replace Gameiro and Saul for Atletico.
57 min Good spell for Atletico in the last couple of minutes as they put the pressure on the Real Madrid defence. Carrasco decides to have a go from distance, but his effort was always rising.
55 min The atmosphere inside the Bernabeu has dropped at the start of the second period, which is an indication of the drop in intensity. Atletico continue to create decent moments in the final third, although Navas has not yet had a serious save to make in the opening 55 minutes of this game.
53 min BOOKING! Saul (Atletico) is booked for a foul on Nacho.
52 min Ronaldo dances away from the challenge of two Atletico players before delivering a low cross towards Benzema, but Koke is on hand to clear behind a corner. Super work from Ronaldo there.
51 min You still get the feeling that there is something in this game for Atletico, who are very dangerous when Griezmann and Carrasco have space to attack in the final third. The foul count is rising here, and it would not be a surprise to see a flurry of yellow cards in the second 45 minutes.
48 min BOOKING! Isco (Real Madrid) is booked for a late challenge on Lucas.
48 min Savic is fortunate to escape a yellow card after chopping Ronaldo to the deck inside the Atletico half. It has been a careful and considered start to the second period from both teams here.
47 min... REAL MADRID SUB! Spanish defender Nacho replaces Carvajal, who picked up a hamstring injury in the final stages of the first period. That is a blow for the home side.
46 min RESTART! Real Madrid resume the action at the Bernabeu...
The referee brings the first period to a close with Real Madrid leading Atletico Madrid 1-0 at the interval courtesy of Ronaldo's 33rd goal of the season. Atletico have had their moments, however, and it was the visitors that ended the opening 45 minutes on the front foot.
45 min+3 HALF-TIME: Real Madrid 1-0 Atletico Madrid
45 min+2 It appears the half-time break will be used to assess Carvajal.
45 min+2 Carvajal's injury came in a high challenge with Saul, and there is some concern for the right-back.
45 min+1 Carvajal looks to have pulled his hamstring for Real Madrid here.
45 min Smart defending from Lucas as the Atletico full-back prevents Marcelo from driving into the away side's box. Godin then rises to clear the resulting corner as we head for the half-time break.
43 min Casemiro has been patched-up after an aerial challenge, and it does appear that the Brazilian will be fit to continue. The pressure from Atletico continues in the latter stages of this first period.
41 min Atletico continue to threaten as Carrasco breaks down the right before delivering, but Varane is across to clear ahead of Koke, who has been more involved since that chat with Simeone. Real Madrid just need to be careful here as they come under increasing pressure late in the first period.
38 min Better from Atletico in the last couple of minutes as they pass and probe in the final third of the field, and you get the feeling that there is something in this match for the away side.
36 min Simeone has just pulled Koke across to have a word, and it does appear that the Spaniard has moved into a wider position. Real Madrid are having a lot of joy between Atletico's midfield and defence, and it seems Simeone has spotted something. Possibly stopping Carvajal breaking forward.
34 min Possession football from Real Madrid in the last couple of minutes, but Atletico are much tighter at the back as they continue to shuffle across and clear their lines. It remains 1-0 to the home side.
32 min... CHANCE! Griezmann chips a wonderful ball into Godin, but the centre-back lifts his effort over the crossbar from close range. Sensational invention from Griezmann there!
31 min Atletico have a free kick in a dangerous area as Carvajal brings Carrasco to the ground...
29 min CLOSE! Stunning work from Ronaldo as the number seven dances past Lucas before finding Benzema with a super cross, and the striker's over-head kick is just wide of the post!
28 min Atletico have been too passive in the opening 28 minutes of this match. Real Madrid are being afforded far too much space in the final third of the field, with Ronaldo and Benzema linking once again. You just get the feeling that Atletico cannot afford to concede a second at this stage of the match.
26 min BOOKING! Koke (Atletico) is booked for a foul on Modric.
24 min CLOSE! Modric's low effort just misses Oblak's post!
23 min Better from Atletico in the last couple of minutes as they threaten from two set pieces, but Real Madrid manage to clear their lines. We have not seen an awful lot from Griezmann in the opening stages of this clash at the Bernabeu, but Gameiro has been dangerous on the shoulder of Real Madrid's defence.
21 min Oblak saves an effort from Benzema after Carvajal had broken clear down the right once again. Atletico have been a little passive in their challenges in the opening 21 minutes of this match.
20 min I expected a pretty tight game at the Bernabeu, but it has been a very open affair with 20 minutes on the clock. Real Madrid lead courtesy of a header from Ronaldo, but Atletico have shown me enough to think that they will get on the scoresheet tonight. It has been a brilliant first leg thus far.
17 min CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Atletico as Gameiro drives into the Real Madrid box before looking to round Navas, but the Real Madrid goalkeeper gets a massive hand on the ball!
17 min Oblak drops down to keep out an Isco strike from distance.
16 min SAVE! Real Madrid come close to a second as Varane rises inside the Atletico box to head a Kroos corner towards goal, but Oblak is on hand to make a really smart save.
15 min Pass, pass, pass from Real Madrid as they continue to force the issue in the final third. Benzema looks to make ground close to the Atletico box, but Savic is across to clear behind the goal.
13 min Atletico were impressive in the opening six minutes of this match, but Real Madrid are very much on the front foot at the moment as they look to net a quick-fire second. The stadium is bouncing here.
11 min Guess who?! Real Madrid make the breakthrough in the 10th minute of this semi-final as Casemiro lifts a dangerous cross into the Atletico box, and Ronaldo rises to power his header past Oblak!
10 min GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Atletico Madrid (Ronaldo)
7 min CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Real Madrid to take the lead as Carvajal drives into the Atletico box before looking to beat Oblak, but the Atletico stopper makes a smart save. The ball actually then falls to Benzema inside the box, but the Frenchman cannot convert under pressure!
6 min No chances for either side in the opening six minutes, but Atletico boss Diego Simeone will be delighted with his team's start to this match. The visitors are having plenty of possession here.
4 min Ronaldo hits one from distance, but his effort was always wide of the post.
4 min Tonight's referee is England's Martin Atkinson, while Michael Oliver is among the assistants at the Bernabeu. Let's hope that we are not talking about the officials at the end of this match, rather than a brilliant game between these two capital rivals. It has been a positive start from Atletico tonight.
2 min... the state of the pitch at the Bernabeu is just exceptional. It is actually a carpet. As expected, it has been a fast-paced start to this match as both teams look for early possession of the ball. Atletico have already dropped into a narrow 4-3-3 formation, with Gameiro inside Griezmann and Carrasco.
0 min KICKOFF! Atletico kick things off at the Bernabeu...
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