Cristiano Ronaldo equalled Lionel Messi’s record of 14 goals in one Champions League season as Real Madrid demolished Dortmund, almost assuring themselves a fourth successive semi-final appearance.

The Portugal forward was not at his best on Wednesday night but he buried the all-important third goal in the second half and when he hobbled off with 10 minutes left, the Bernabeu rose as one to salute him.

In his 100th Champions League game he also matched Alfredo Di Stefano’s haul of 49 goals in the European Cup.

And he was ably assisted by Gareth Bale, who scored the first and ran Jurgen Klopp’s side ragged on a fast, wet pitch.

Dortmund beat Real Madrid 4-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals last season and Klopp had promised a positive approach but the optimism lasted all of three minutes with Bale scoring his 17th goal of the season to put the home side 1-0 up.

Karim Benzema chased down Erik Durm and fed Dani Carvajal and when the young right back played in Bale, he got away from Sokratis Papastathopoulos to poke his shot past keeper Roman Weidenfeller.

After such a start he might have been forgiven for thinking he would be allowed to take the first free-kick of the game – no chance.

On 12 minutes, Madrid were awarded a set-piece 30 yards out but though the Welshman adopted his distinctive pre-strike pose, it was Ronaldo who shuffled up and blasted just over Weidenfeller’s bar.

The Dortmund keeper got a touch as the missile flew over and from the resulting corner, Marco Reus mistakenly kicked him as he tried to clear Pepe’s effort on goal.

Reus then kicked Ronaldo and was booked for the challenge.

There was no chance of Real Madrid losing their heads. Another impressive feature of their Champions League campaign this season has been their low card count going into what should be the semi-final stage.

On 27 minutes Xabi Alonso fed Isco and he doubled their lead shooting through a crowd of yellow-shirted defenders and past an unsighted Weidenfeller. Isco lit up Malaga’s Champions League campaign last season with Manuel Pellegrini in charge. It was the Chilean coach who wanted to take him to Manchester City in the summer.

Bale was full of self-less running in midfield and he finally got his free-kick opportunity on the half hour when he won a free-kick and this time took the kick that Weidenfeller tipped over.

Dortmund forced a rare breakaway and Iker Casillas had to save down to his left from Kevin Grosskreutz.

Pepe then barged Henrihk Mkhitaryan to ground in the penalty area but English referee Mark Clattenburg waved away their appeals.

Real were enjoying an easy night at the back with the suspended Robert Lewandowski busy looking at properties in Munich where he will be plying his trade next season – he got four goals against Madrid last year and how they missed him.

Bale produced a Cruyff-like turn to get away from Durm, bringing whoops from fans in the Bernabeu enjoying one of his best performances of the season.

Dortmund had the best of the later stages of the first half with Reus forcing a corner off Carvajal and Ronaldo again being the man to head the ball clear but Carlo Ancelotti’s side were in control and all that was missing was a goal from Ronaldo. That would not be long in coming.

On 57 minutes, Luka Modric danced his way through the heart of the Dortmund defence and fed Ronaldo, who shot past Weidenfeller for his 49th Champions League goal.

He hobbled off with 10 minutes to go as a precaution with the applause of all four sides of the Bernabeu ringing in his ears. He has scored in his last eight Champions League games and with him leading Real Madrid’s assault on Portugal next month it will take something stronger than a faded Dortmund to stop them.

Afterwards Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno said: ‘Madrid supporters should not be too concerned, Ronaldo was only taken off as a precaution.’

Klopp refused to blame the absence of injured players and the suspended Lewandowski.

He said: ‘We just were not compact enough. There was so much space between our defence and midfield when Bale goes through to score. They have great players and they are so good at playing fast football.’

—Daily Mail