adminMADRID. — The Spanish and Italian Press showed no mercy to Real Madrid following their elimination from the Champions League.
“The fiasco of the century,” screamed Spanish sports newspaper Marca’s front-page headline.
The publication showed a photograph of Cristiano Ronaldo in tears after the game, accompanied by a smaller headline that read: “Real Madrid fails at the Bernabeu and misses a historic opportunity to play in the mother of all finals.”
Juventus hero and Spain international Alvaro Morata took centre stage in Spanish sports newspaper AS.
Morata, who hails from Madrid and played for Real last season, scored two goals over the two legs of the semi-final, scoring the crucial equaliser in the second leg that sent Juve into their first final in 12 years.
“It had to be Morata,” read the headline in AS.
Morata, who did not celebrate the goals against Real, was quoted on the front page as saying: “I wish I had scored against a different team.”
Another player not celebrating was Ronaldo.
Barcelona-based El Mundo Deportivo displayed the photograph of the striker crying and on the same page an image of Juve’s players celebrating along with the headline “Mamma Mia!!”
The publication rubbed salt in Real’s wounds by pointing out that Barca’s arch-rivals would end the campaign empty handed.
Barca are four points clear in the Primera Division, with two games remaining and also in the Copa del Rey final, with Athletic Bilbao their opponents in that game.
A sub-headline in El Mundo Deportivo said: “Real Madrid end without the Champions League, La Liga and the Copa del Rey.”
There was much adulation for Juventus back home in Italy. — Telegraph.
Online Reporter