Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name further into the history books on Wednesday night after becoming the first footballer to reach 100 European goals.
After the great victory in the Champions League quarter finals against Bayern Munich, Zinedine Zidane spoke at press conference before tomorrow's match against Sporting Gijón at El Molinón (15:15 United Kingdom time).
Arturo Vidal headed Bayern into the lead, but then skied a penalty attempt on the stroke of half-time before Ronaldo volleyed the defending champions' level after the break. "We still have 90 minutes to play", Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
Coming into Wednesday's Champions League quarter-finals first-leg fixture against Bayern Munich, the Portuguese striker had been goal-less in six consecutive European games, with his last goal coming against Borussia Dortmund back in September.
"When I started scoring goals in the Champions League I never thought I would beat this record".
Real pressed home the numerical advantage as Ronaldo tapped the ball between the legs of Bayern's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for the victor on 77 minutes.
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He added: "It was a testing point for us mentally, of course that was a moment where I felt that now we would see where we go". Now in sixth place, the Gunners trail fourth-place Manchester City by seven points, but the London club have a game in hand.
'Gareth is not going to be with us against Sporting, that is clear, ' Zidane said at his pre-match media conference.
Bale scored latel to seal that 2-0 win over Espanyol, and two games later he struck again to start a 3-2 fightback at Villarreal.
The goals were the 99th and 100th by Ronaldo in European club competition, giving him the milestone almost seven months after he had scored his last Champions League goal in a 2-2 group-stage draw at Borussia Dortmund. "The results are going our way and I'm happy for that".
But sometimes, if you pay close enough attention to the faint but perceptible differences in an aging athlete's game, you can see the traces of senescence before it fully and irreversibly robs an athlete of their ability.
Zidane didn't say whether he will rest Ronaldo or any other regular starter for the team's away game at relegation-threatened Sporting Gijon on Saturday in the Spanish league. We don't need a miracle like Barcelona had in their return match against Paris. In the end, both teams came away from their Champions League quarterfinal match relatively satisfied and looking ahead to next week's second leg in England.
Zidane's men have opened up a three-point lead over Barca at the top of the table and have a game still in hand.
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