Cristiano Ronaldo has had some special nights at Real Madrid. However, there has been nothing quite like this one: a hat-trick that brought a thrilling 3-0 win to overturn a Champions League quarter-final tie that had looked lost. The Portuguese is far from finished yet - and nor are Zidane Zidane's side in 2015-16.

The Portuguese forward had been on the crest of a wave after hitting the winner in the Clasico clash at Camp Nou recently, but days later he was unable to prevent Madrid from a desperate defeat in Germany that left their Champions League hopes hanging in the balance.

Before the second match, Ronaldo posted a video in which he said: "With the help of the fans, this will be a magical night." And it turned out to be exactly that. The supporters did their part by getting behind the team - and Cristiano kept his side of the bargain in spectacular style with all three goals.

The first two came in quick succession, after 16 and 17 minutes. The opener was a clinical finish at the far post, the second a superb header. Wolfsburg were stunned and the Bernabeu was rocking. But there was still work to be done.

Real relaxed after drawing level and there were some nervy moments as well, but Ronaldo ran all night and demanded the maximum effort from his team-mates. At one point in the second half, when none of the Real players offered themselves at a throw-in, he yelled out in frustration. This one meant a lot.

And after he had blasted one free-kick attempt into the wall, he curled home his second set piece to send the home fans into raptures, with wild celebrations in the corner with his team-mates.

"What can I say about Cristiano?" Zidane said after the match. "He is the best player in the world and that's why he is so special. But Cristiano also needs the whole team and that's what we want. That's what he wants. Not all players can score three goals. That's why he's special. He makes the difference."

And captain Sergio Ramos said: "Cristiano deserved a magical night. He does everything for this badge. We need him. He has shown for a long time that he's the number one and when he's on this form, it really shows."

It does. During the doomed tenure of Rafa Benitez, Ronaldo rarely appeared happy and failed to score against any of the top teams. Since the arrival of Zidane in January, however, he has netted key goals home and away against Roma, a winner in the Clasico at Camp Nou and now a brilliant hat-trick to see Madrid come back from two goals down in Europe for the first time since 1987.

"Cristiano never fails," Madrid legend Emilio Butragueno said after the game. "He is a guarantee."

However, had Madrid failed to advance on Tuesday night, the future of both Cristiano and also Zidane were likely to be very much in doubt. As it is, though, this result represents a big boost for the club's prized player and paints an optimistic outlook for Zidane too.

President Florentino Perez has been quick to change coaches when things have not turned out well for Real in recent times, but the idea is to keep Zidane for at least another season given the circumstances of his arrival and his standing at the club. A loss would have placed that plan into doubt, but a win strengthens the Frenchman's position at the club and the club chief went down to the dressing room afterwards to congratulate the staff and the players as well.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, showed that he is still Madrid's main man. Yes, he had the support of his team-mates, but any player needs that. This was the performance of an elite athlete at his brilliant best, a magical night that proves he still holds the key to Madrid's hopes when it matters most.

He may be 31, but Cristiano single-handedly saved his side on Tuesday. In doing so, he showed he is far from finished and, back in the fight for La Liga and the Champions League as well, Real Madrid aren't done yet either in 2015-16.