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Cristiano Ronaldo scores five in Real Madrid rampage against Granada Cristiano Ronaldo scores five in Real Madrid rampage against Granada
(about 4 hours later)
Cristiano Ronaldo struck the quickest hat-trick of his career on his way to netting five goals in one match for the first time, as Real Madrid drubbed second-from-bottom Granada 9-1 to move within a point of La Liga leaders Barcelona. C ristiano Ronaldo struck the quickest hat-trick of his career on his way to netting five goals in one match for the first time, as Real Madrid drubbed second-from-bottom Granada 9-1 to move within a point of La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Ronaldo’s five goals took his tally in La Liga this season to 36, four ahead of Lionel Messi, who will have a chance to reduce the deficit when Barça play Celta Vigo later on Sunday. The Portuguese forward has now scored three or more goals 24 times in La Liga, equalling the record set this season by Messi.Ronaldo’s five goals took his tally in La Liga this season to 36, four ahead of Lionel Messi, who will have a chance to reduce the deficit when Barça play Celta Vigo later on Sunday. The Portuguese forward has now scored three or more goals 24 times in La Liga, equalling the record set this season by Messi.
Ronaldo struck three times in eight minutes after Gareth Bale had fired Real ahead in the 25th minute. After failing to find the net in his previous nine outings, Bale netted his fifth in his last four appearances for club and country when he pounced on a defensive error, rounded goalkeeper Oier Olazabal and slotted the ball into the empty net. Ronaldo struck three times in eight minutes after Gareth Bale had fired Real ahead in the 25th minute. After failing to find the net in his previous nine outings, Bale netted his fifth in his last four appearances for club and country when he pounced on a defensive error, rounded goalkeeper Oier Olazábal and slotted the ball into the empty net.
Ronaldo clipped home his first of the game five minutes later, added a second after more poor defending in the 36th minute and a third in the 38th when Oier could only palm his fierce shot into the net.Ronaldo clipped home his first of the game five minutes later, added a second after more poor defending in the 36th minute and a third in the 38th when Oier could only palm his fierce shot into the net.
Karim Benzema made it 5-0 at a corner seven minutes into the second half, Ronaldo nodded home his fourth two minutes later and Benzema grabbed his second a further two minutes after that as Real put a woeful Granada to the sword.Karim Benzema made it 5-0 at a corner seven minutes into the second half, Ronaldo nodded home his fourth two minutes later and Benzema grabbed his second a further two minutes after that as Real put a woeful Granada to the sword.
“Everything went to plan. My team are in good physical shape, the players are fresh and we showed that throughout the match,” said the Real manager Carlo Ancelotti. “We played with a good tempo and scored bags of goals. We come away from this happy but this is just one game and we have other important ones coming up.
“It’s simple mathematics. It’s better to win nine games 1-0 than one 9-1. But today we have to point out the good play, the team are back to playing as desired, just like they have played many times before. What mattered most was winning and playing well and we have achieved that.”
Robert Ibáñez pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 74th minute before Granada defender Diego Mainz put the ball into his own net seven minutes from time. Ronaldo scored his fifth, and Real’s ninth, with a last-minute header.Robert Ibáñez pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 74th minute before Granada defender Diego Mainz put the ball into his own net seven minutes from time. Ronaldo scored his fifth, and Real’s ninth, with a last-minute header.
Ronaldo’s fifth goal completed Real Madrid’s largest La Liga victory since 1967, and Granada’s heaviest ever La Liga defeat. It also marked the first time a Real Madrid player had scored five goals in one game since Fernando Morientes in 2002. Ronaldo’s fifth goal completed Real Madrid’s largest La Liga victory since 1967, and Granada’s heaviest ever La Liga defeat. It also marked the first time a Real Madrid player had scored five goals in a game since Fernando Morientes in 2002.
The crushing victory was just the tonic Real needed after a run of three defeats in four games in all competitions, including a 2-1 reverse at the Camp Nou on March 22. Real’s next La Liga fixture comes on Wednesday night, away to local rivals Rayo Vallecano. “He [Ronaldo] has improved just as the team have,” added Ancelotti. “This is the first time he has scored five goals in a game and that is good news for everyone: for him, for the team and in terms of the upcoming fixtures”.
The crushing victory was just the tonic Real needed after a run of three defeats in four games in all competitions, including a 2-1 reverse at the Camp Nou on 22 March. Real’s next La Liga fixture comes on Wednesday night, away to local rivals Rayo Vallecano.