On this day in 2003, Brazilian striker Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Manchester United to progress to the Champions League semi-finals. Arriving at Old Trafford with a 3-1 advantage from the first leg, Ronaldo gave the Spanish side further control in the 12th minute when he fired home past goalkeeper Fabien Barthez. Ruud Van Nistelrooy brought United back into it but the Brazilian got his second of the night, finishing off a fine team move with a tap-in. With his work done for the evening, he was taken off and got a standing ovation from the Old Trafford crowd. The striker stayed at the Bernabeu for another four years before leaving to join AC Milan in 2007.

Source: Express April 23, 2021 05:03 UTC