Cristiano Ronaldo struck a hat-trick as Real Madrid
started their Primera Division campaign in ominous fashion
with a thumping away victory over outclassed Real Zaragoza.
Ronaldo, who won the European Golden Shoe last season
after netting 40 times in La Liga, netted in the 24th,
71st and 87th minutes to complete yet another treble
for Madrid - the £80million man scored at least
three goals in a competitive match seven times last
term.
Marcelo, Xabi Alonso and Kaka were also on the scoresheet
for Jose Mourinho's men, who but for some fine saves
from Zaragoza goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez and some indifferent
finishing would have been celebrating an even bigger
victory.
Madrid, who were beaten 3-2 at home by Zaragoza in
April as they ended up finishing second to arch rivals
Barcelona, were in charge almost from kick-off and Mesut
Ozil and Karim Benzema had both been denied by Roberto
before Ronaldo opened the scoring.
The chance was created by playmaker Ozil, whose superb
threaded through-ball into the area was perfect for
Ronaldo to race onto and slot a first-time shot past
Ricardo.
Four minutes later Madrid were celebrating a second
following a good move that resulted in Sergio Ramos
dinking the ball back from the goalline to near the
penalty spot, where Marcelo took one touch before firing
into the corner.
That lead was no more that dominant Madrid deserved
and the only surprise was they were not further in front
by half-time, with Ronaldo seeing three efforts saved
by Ricardo.
Zaragoza had been outclassed but they had a half-chance
to pull a goal back on the stroke of half-time when
Paulo Da Silva met a deep free-kick at the far post,
but his header went wide.
The second half continued with Madrid making all the
running, and they spurned two great chances to increase
their lead in the opening 10 minutes of the period.
The first saw Angel Di Maria poke wide from eight yards
out after Ricardo had spilled a Ronaldo shot, and then
Benzema was denied by the home keeper after the Frenchman,
who has been in prolific form in pre-season, had intercepted
a dreadful attempted pass by Da Silva across the face
of his own box.
Ronaldo had another effort saved by Ricardo before
Alonso made it 3-0 in the 64th minute, the Spain international
drilling a low shot into the corner of the net after
the ball had fallen to him 25 yards out.
Ronaldo headed over before the world's most expensive
player doubled his tally for the night with a tap-in
from close range following a clinical Madrid counter-attack.
Madrid continued to create chances in the closing stages
and they added a fifth through substitute Kaka, who
turned inside the area before thumping an unstoppable
finish past Ricardo.
That was in the 82nd minute and there was still time
for Ronaldo to complete his hat-trick, the Portugal
international slotting into an empty net after Kaka's
cross-shot had been half-stopped by Ricardo.
|
