Late penalty gets Real Madrid off the hook

Spanish football giants Real Madrid secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League semifinals despite a 3-1 loss against Italy's Juventus late Wednesday.

The back-to-back Champions League winners barely eliminated Juventus from Europe's top-tier tournament.

Juventus beat the Spanish side 3-1 in the second leg of the quarterfinals at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, but a late goal from a penalty shot by Real's Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo upset the Italians as Real Madrid won 4-3 on aggregate.

Real Madrid previously won the first leg 3-0 in Italy.

Juventus' Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic put the ball into Real's net twice in the first half.

The Italian side's French midfielder Blaise Matuidi made the score 3-0 in the 61st minute which dismayed Real Madrid as the goal levelled the aggregate score.

Near the end of the showdown, Real were awarded a penalty kick and Ronaldo converted it successfully.

Juventus' veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was sent off after arguing with referee Michael Oliver about the penalty kick decision.

Ronaldo netted a very late penalty in his 150th Champions League appearance, scoring his 120th goal in his Champions League career.

Separately, German football heavyweights Bayern Munich booked their place in the semis after preserving a 2-1 lead from the first leg.

Bayern drew against Sevilla 0-0 in the second leg at the Allianz Arena late Wednesday, cementing their place in the semifinals.

Liverpool and Italian club Roma reached the semis Tuesday.

The Champions League's semi-final draws will be held on April 13.