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Real Madrid will be visiting the Wanda Metropolitano this Saturday to face their city rivals, Atletico Madrid. It is the fixture that their star player cherishes and has done well over the years.
Ronaldo is the top scorer in the Madrid derby with 21 goals and has six goals in his past four outings versus Atleti. Although the four-time Ballon d'Or winner has just one goal in La Liga this season, it will be interesting to see if he can get past his goal-scoring struggles to take his team to a vital victory.
For now, let us take a look at five of the top performances of Ronaldo against Atleti.
Also Read: Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo, King of El Derbi
#5. Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid, UEFA Champions League (2014-15)
On April 22, 2015, Atletico Madrid visited the Santiago Bernabeu for the 2nd leg of the quarter final in 2014-15 UEFA Champions League. The 1st leg ended in a goalless draw at Vicente Calderon and it was all to play for at the Bernabeu.
Except for the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League final, Los Blancos were unable to defeat their city rivals in the previous seven outings. The pressure was on Ronaldo to deliver the goods in the absence of two members of ‘BBC’ trident-- Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema. Also, Luka Modric and Marcelo were ruled out of the fixture.
The visitors frustrated Real for the majority of the match and the game was heading for extra-time as Cristiano Ronaldo drove forward and squared for Hernandez to slot home.
Although Cristiano didn't score in the fixture but he was Madrid's brightest player on the pitch. The Portuguese tested Atletico Goalkeeper, Oblak on six occasions and was one of the players fouled by Arda Turan as the latter got sent off in the 76th minute of the match.
Judging by the importance of the fixture and unavailability of players, this performance of Ronaldo certainly deserves a spot on this list.
#4. Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid, La Liga (2012-13)
By the end of November 2012, Real Madrid was eight points behind their city rivals in the Spanish League. Jose Mourinho's side was under constant criticism as the Liga Derbi approaches.
The home side took the lead with their first attempt on goal as Arda Turan was penalised for handling 35 yards out and Ronaldo produced a stunning effort to score for the first time from a free-kick in that season. Ronaldo had another formidable strike before the break, this time from 45 yards away, which was turned away by Thibaut Courtois.
Ronaldo forced another save from Courtois after striking another free-kick on the hour mark. Minutes later, Ronaldo picked out Mesut Ozil, who was free inside the penalty area, and the German threaded the ball between Courtois' legs for Real's second goal.
It was a comfortable victory in the end for Los Merengues, thanks to the gleaming performance of their talismanic No.7. Moreover, Real Madrid extended their unbeaten run to 24 matches over their city rivals.
#3. Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid, La Liga (2016-17)
Nearly a year ago, Real Madrid visited Vicente Calderon to face Atletico Madrid for Matchday 12 of La Liga. The visitors were leading the Spanish League by one point, and a win at Calderon was needed to extend their reign at the top.
Ronaldo opened the scoring after his deflected free-kick completely wrong-footed Atletico Madrid goalkeeper, Jan Oblak, on 22nd minute of the match. Moments later, the Portuguese forced Oblak to make a save after a superb turn away from Uruguayan, Diego Godin.
In the second half of the match, the Real Madrid forward won a penalty after a foul was committed inside the penalty area by Atletico Madrid defender, Savic. Ronaldo scored from the spot and went on to score his 39th career hattrick after tapping in from Gareth Bale's cross.
It was Ronaldo's second treble against Atletico Madrid as Zinedine Zidane's side completely dominated the fixture. The win at Calderon gave fans believe that their side can finally end their La Liga drought.
#2. Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid, UEFA Champions League (2016-17)
The big clubs of Madrid faced each other in the semifinal match of last year's UEFA Champions League and once again, Cristiano was the star performer in the fixture.
The first leg of the semifinal was at Los Blancos' home stadium, Santiago Bernabeu. The home side was expecting to score some vital home goals, and top scorer of the competition did just that.
Real Madrid led after 10 minutes when Ronaldo headed home Casemiro's cross. Ronaldo doubled Real's advantage as he volleyed from 16 yards past Atletico keeper, Jan Oblak, after Karim Benzema's pass bounced off defender Filipe Luis, in the 73rd minute of the match. The Portuguese then scored his third goal after a neat exchange with Lucas Vazquez, thirteen minutes later.
As a result of Ronaldo's hattrick, Real Madrid had a lead of three goals before visiting Vicente Calderon for the second leg of the semifinal. The advantage proved to be good enough for Zidane's side, and Real was through the finals of UEFA Champions League.
#1. Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid, La Liga (2011-12)
Real Madrid visited Vicente Calderon in April 2012 desperately in search of a win after their advantage at the top of the league was cut down to just one point due to three consecutive draws.
Ronaldo opened the score after his stunning free-kick completely deceived Atletico goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, 36 yards from the goal. Atletico Madrid drew level through Falcao's goal in the 55th minute of the match. The score wasn't level for long as Ronaldo struck a shot from the top-left corner of the penalty area over Courtois, sending it rocketing into the far corner.
Moments later, the Portuguese completed his first hattrick against Atletico after scoring from the penalty spot. Former Manchester United star than assisted José Callejón for his side's fourth goal as they continued their dominance over Atletico.
