
Audio By Carbonatix
Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored as Real Madrid moved towards their fourth successive Champions League semi-final with victory over Borussia Dortmund.
Real got off to a fantastic start when Bale poked in after three minutes, before Isco doubled the advantage with a low shot from the edge of the area.
Ronaldo added a third after the break when he danced past goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller and slotted in.
The second leg is on 8 April.
Jurgen Klopp's side, who were beaten by Bayern Munich in last season's final, will retain faint hope they can turn the tie around, but they will also realise they were soundly beaten by a Real side who was not operating at their very best.
If the Spanish giants perform like they did when they demolished Schalke 6-1 in Gelsenkirchen in the previous round,then Dortmund will have no hope.
The German side did have their opportunities. They had 12 efforts on goal, although only two were on target, and without suspended striker Robert Lewandowski, they lacked poise in front of goal.
The visitors found themselves a goal down when Bale, who has had a superb debut season with Los Blancos, caught the defence out as he sprinted into the area to convert Dani Carvajal's square ball. It was the Welshman's fifth goal in eight Champions League games.
Real made it 2-0 just before the half-hour mark when German keeper Weidenfeller and his backline were outwitted by the quick feet of Isco and the subsequent low shot that found the bottom right corner.
Weidenfeller had a tough workout on a wet night in Madrid. He tipped over free-kicks from Ronaldo and Bale, before using his foot to block the latter's deft flick from eight yards. Perhaps the save of the night came after the break when he denied Karim Benzema's half-volley that seemed destined for the roof of the net.
However, he could do nothing for Real's third which was brilliantly converted by Ronaldo.
The Portuguese forward, in his 100th appearance in the competition, found himself face-to-face with the keeper, before shifting to his left and tapping in.
It was a record-equalling 14th goal in a single season of this version of the competition - matching Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
Dortmund created a couple of good chances after the break. First, Henrikh Mkhitaryan had his shot from three yards blocked by Pepe, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fired a yard wide when he should have hit the target.
An away goal would have given Dortmund hope but, as it is, next week's fixture is likely to be their final appearance in this season's competition.
Watch video
Latest Stories
-
Netherlands Fire Chief in Ghana to support fire safety reforms and market fire prevention efforts
31 minutes -
Mason goes on remand for stealing
34 minutes -
Gov’t cuts fuel taxes, deploys buses to curb impact of rising fuel prices
1 hour -
Interior Minister calls for intelligence-driven strategy as Ghana strengthens counter-terrorism efforts
1 hour -
Adenta Circuit Court remands Pastor William Gyimah over viral threats against Vice President
2 hours -
“We’ve implemented changes to prevent a repeat of the AFCON final” – CAF President Motsepe
2 hours -
Gov’t orders deployment of Metro Mass buses to cushion commuters amid fuel price hike
3 hours -
Key Indian state polls begin in test for Modi’s party
3 hours -
Playback: Gomoa Easter Carnival in photos
3 hours -
Gov’t orders removal of fuel taxes to ease pump price hikes
3 hours -
“Whatever the decision of CAS, we will respect it” – CAF President Motsepe after AFCON final meetings in Morocco
3 hours -
Emma Ankrah: When waiting becomes part of treatment – Reflections on hospital care
3 hours -
Ghana urges travellers to prepare for new EU border system roll-out
4 hours -
Mahama enforces fuel coupon ban for ministers as cabinet moves to slash fuel taxes
4 hours -
Task force probes strange fish deaths in Tema
4 hours