Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Rodrigo revealed that he found the net in a moment echoing the celebrated goal celebrations of Cristiano Ronaldo, the club’s legendary former star, during a 2-0 Champions League quarterfinal win over Chelsea in London. The victory, secured on April 18, sent Real Madrid through to the semi finals as they moved past the Blues and into the next phase of Europe’s premier competition.
Rodrigo’s double showcased his sharp form in this high-stakes tie. After the first goal, the striker’s celebration subtly mirrored Ronaldo’s iconic joy, a nod that resonated with fans familiar with the Portuguese great’s influence at the club. The moment underscored Rodrigo’s personal connection to a period of glamour and trophy-winning success in Madrid’s recent history.
Rodrigo explained that the celebration came with a touch of pain in his knee, noting that when the goal went in he considered the knee slide but decided against a full bend due to discomfort. The act of copying Ronaldo’s post-goal ritual felt natural, a personal tribute to his idol that also lifted the mood around the squad as they advanced to the next round.
Courtois played a pivotal role in the triumph, making crucial saves at key moments as Real Madrid pressed to convert chances that could have increased the cushion. The goalkeeper’s performances earlier in the tie had been under scrutiny, but his decisive stops helped secure the clean sheet and the aggregate win, reinforcing Madrid’s title credentials and depth in goalkeeping options during a demanding European campaign.
Looking ahead, Real Madrid now faces the winner of the Manchester City versus Bayern Munich tie in the semi finals. In the first leg of that pairing, Manchester City claimed a 3-0 advantage and will travel to defend their lead in the second leg. The return match is scheduled to take place in Munich, with kickoff aligned to European and global broadcast windows. The match will shape Madrid’s path to another final and add another chapter to a storied rivalry between Europe’s elite clubs during this season’s knockout rounds.
Further context circled around Karim Benzema, who has long served as Madrid’s principal striker and a central figure in the club’s recent European campaigns. His role has been celebrated in the record books for accumulating a substantial tally of appearances in the Champions League among Real Madrid’s field players, underscoring the depth and continuity of Madrid’s attacking options across multiple campaigns.