LONDON — Cristiano Ronaldo got a monkey off his back and most likely helped Real Madrid banish its lingering problem in the Champions League.
By striking the opening goal in Real’s 2-0 victory at Roma on Wednesday, Ronaldo scored for the first time away from home since November. And with that goal and a later one from Jesé Rodríguez, Real Madrid moved comfortably toward beating an Italian opponent in the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time since 1987.
Both goals were momentous. Ronaldo’s 89 goals in the Champions League are more than any other player’s.