13 Apr 2016

Ronaldo scores hattrick for Real, Man City through

9:32 am on 13 April 2016

Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick has inspired Real Madrid to a 3-0 victory over VfL Wolfsburg that clinched a place in the Champions League semi-finals, while Manchester City reached the final four for the first time.

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in action.

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in action. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Ronaldo got the 10-times European champions off to the perfect start by tapping in Daniel Carvajal's cross after 16 minutes and then headed a second goal less than a minute later from Toni Kroos' corner.

The Portugese star capped a 3-2 win on aggregate when he curled in a free kick after 77 minutes, his 16th goal in this season's competition taking him within touching distance of his record of 17 in 2013-14.

It is the sixth successive season that Real have reached the last four.

Meanwhile, Kevin de Bruyne sent City into the semi-finals for the first time, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain to build on a 2-2 draw from the first leg.

PSG's fourth successive exit in the quarter-finals leaves the Qatari-owned club still chasing a much sought-after European Cup.

Instead, City is celebrating another landmark in the club's transformation in the eight years since itself coming under Middle Eastern ownership - from Abu Dhabi.

This was a night when rival strikers both misfired.

PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic endured frustration in front of goal and Sergio Aguero missed a penalty for City in the first half.

Instead, De Bruyne eased City's passage by curling a shot through the crowded penalty area into the net in the 76th minute.

-AAP