The Portuguese forward was not at his best but he had buried the all-important third goal in the second half and when he hobbled off with half an hour 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.
Cool finish: Gareth Bale slots the ball past Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller for opening goal
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 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, Marcos Reus mistakenly kicked him as he tried to clear Pepe’s effort on goal.
Reus then kicked Ronaldo and was booked for the challenge.
Impressive: Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo scores his 14th Champions League goal this season
Roar: Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his second-half strike against Dortmund
Impressive: Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo scores his 14th Champions League goal this season
Close call: Gareth Bale had another effort disallowed for offside
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.
Quick fire: Bale turns away to celebrate after his early strike against Dortmund
White hot: Bale celebrates with team-mates Daniel Carvajal (left) and Xabi Alonso (centre)
Smashing: Tennis ace and Real Madrid fan Rafael Nadal watches the Champions League clash
Clinical: Real Madrid's Isco scores the second goal against Dortmund
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.
Nice one: Goalscorer Isco is congratulated by Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring against Dortmund
Group hug: Real Madrid celebrate Isco's strike against Dortmund
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