Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
After watching his side get run ragged for 90 minutes and put on the brink of elimination by a dogged Juventus side, Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and slotted home a controversial penalty with the last kick of a chaotic Champions League game.
Real Madrid’s reward for edging out the Old Lady 4-3 on aggregate is to be slapped with the favourites tag to win the tournament, with dabblebet installing them at just 6/4 (2.50) to lift the trophy for the third consecutive year.
After being destroyed 3-0 in Turin just last week, the Serie A champions showed their mettle as they drew level on aggregate after just an hour of the match in Madrid.
It was not to be, though, as Medhi Benatia fouled Lucas Vasquez in the area in injury time and, after Gianluigi Buffon was sent off for foul and abusive language, Ronaldo coolly stuck the spot kick into the top corner past Wojciech Szczesny.
Glory for Bayern?
Elsewhere on Wednesday night, Bayern Munich played out a goalless draw at home to Sevilla to secure their passage into the last four and are now 15/8 (2.87) to win the Champions League ahead of Friday’s semi-final draw.
The Bundesliga heavyweights did the hard work by winning 2-1 in Spain last week and the result was never in doubt as the Allianz Arena as Sevilla failed to register a single shot on target.
Liverpool are third-favourites at 3/1 (4.0) after their stunning 5-1 aggregate win over Premier League rivals Manchester City, helped in no small part by a 3-0 victory at Anfield in the first leg.
Despite Gabriel Jesus' second minute goal at the Etihad Stadium, the Reds defended resolutely and rode their luck to eventually prevail 2-1 on the night.
More shocks for Roma
The most impressive win of the round, and perhaps in Champions League history, belongs to AS Roma, who overcame a 4-1 thrashing at the Camp Nou to stun Barcelona 3-0 at home and qualify on away goals.
The Italians have been installed as rank outsiders at 10/1 (11.0), though, showing that perhaps the bookies think their dismal away form will be their undoing.
Indeed, Roma have won just one of their last 15 away games in the Champions League and that came at minnows FK Qarabag in September.
