Third treble forPortugese star in five games, Real go fourth
Named the best player of the year, Real Madrid Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, holds his trophy during the UEFA Champions League draw, at the Grimaldi Forum, in Monaco (Photo: AP)
Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his third hat-trick in five games as Real Madrid moved into the top four for the first time this season with a 5-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.It took Ronaldo just two minutes to extend his scoring streak to eight games as he headed home Gareth Bale’s cross and Karim Benzema made the game safe when he doubled Madrid’s lead just before half-time.
Bale teed up Ronaldo once more to make it 3-0 and the Portuguese then turned provider for Benzema to tap home his second of the game.Ronaldo rounded off the scoring two minutes from time when he unintentionally deflected Pepe’s effort home to take his tally for the season to 17 goals in just 11 matches in all competitions. Victory takes Real back to within four points of leaders Barcelona behind Valencia and Sevilla, but ahead of champions Atletico Madrid who drop down to fifth.
A fourth defeat in five league games for Athletic, meanwhile, means Ernesto Valverde’s men end the weekend in the relegation zone.Bale provided the opener on his weaker right foot as he managed to pick out a perfect cross for the unmarked Ronaldo to head home at the back post.Athletic ’keeper Gorka Iraizoz then made a smart save low to his right to deny Ronaldo a second and Benzema just couldn’t stretch to turn home another Bale cross as the hosts piled on the pressure.
However, the Basques settled midway through the half and Iker Muniain’s spectacular dipping volley from the edge of the area forced Iker Casillas into action with a fingertip save.
Crucially Real managed to get the second goal before half-time, though, as Benzema rose highest to head Luka Modric’s corner in via the crossbar.
Bale wasted a great opportunity to make it 3-0 five minutes into the second-half as he blazed over with just Iraizoz to beat.However, the Welshman made amends five minutes later when he raced onto Benzema’s pass and squared for Ronaldo to tap home his second of the night. Madrid were continuing to open up the Athletic defence at will and made it 4-0 21 minutes from time when Ronaldo squared for Benzema to roll into an empty net.
( Source : AFP )
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