Champions League: Real Madrid 4 CSKA Moscow 1

Real Madrid have progressed to the last eight of the Champions League after easing past CSKA Moscow 4-1 at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

With the tie still on a knife edge after a 1-1 draw from the first encounter in Moscow, a Cristiano Ronaldo brace alongside goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema proved enough for Jose Mourinho’s men to comfortably see off the threat of the visitors on their way into the quarter-finals.

Zoran Tosic’s brilliant effort with 13 minutes remaining was nothing but bitter consolation, as the Russian outfit crashed out of the competition by a 5-2 aggregate scoreline.

CSKA began with promise, and fired an early warning shot Madrid’s way after seven minutes, with Seydou Doumbia striking just over when he really should have buried an incisive through ball by Alan Dzagoev.

Mourinho’s men immediately stormed down the pitch in response, Ronaldo cutting in from the left to force Sergey Chepchugov into a smart stop at his near post.

Madrid would not be second best for long, however, and slowly began to exert their influence over proceedings with sustained pressure in the CSKA half.

The opener duly arrived in the 26th minute – Sami Khedira picked out Kaka, who hooked the ball back into the six-yard area for Higuain to poke home.

Madrid came storming out after the interval, Kaka sending a 20-yard effort inches wide before Ronaldo was put though on goal, only for Chepchugov to again thwart him with a strong block at the near post.

Ronaldo was not to be denied though, and scored the home side’s second in the 55th minute after a costly gaffe by Chepchugov.

The CSKA keeper appeared to have the Portuguese’s strike from 30 yards out covered, but fumbled at the last second as the ball slipped in under his arm and into the goal..

The visitors lost all impetus after the second, and found themselves further behind in the 70th minute when substitute Benzema poked home after his initial effort was saved.

The tie seemed done and dusted, but CSKA managed to pull a goal back out of nothing with 13 minutes remaining.

Tosic strode forward on the break, cut in from the left and blasted in an unstoppable shot off the crossbar from 20 yards out.

Ronaldo then added the icing on the cake at the death, stroking home Benzema’s pass on the break from a few yards out as Madrid ran out comfortable winners.

Madrid now take their place in the last eight and await their next challenge, with the draw for the quarter-final set to take place on March 16….