5-star Ronaldo sinks Granada
Print Edition
IF Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti meant to spark Cristiano Ronaldo into life by criticizing the Portugal forward for a recent drop in form before yesterday’s La Liga game against Granada it certainly had the desired effect.
Ancelotti noted in his Saturday news conference that Ronaldo had been outshone by Barcelona forward Lionel Messi as the European champion stumbled through February and March. Ronaldo responded in style against second-from-bottom Granada, netting five goals for the first time in his career as Real romped to a 9-1 victory, its biggest win in La Liga in almost half a century.
His three goals in eight minutes in the first half constituted his fastest ever hat-trick and he added two more in the second period in a scintillating display that took his tally for the season in Spain’s top flight to 36 goals. He is four ahead of Messi at the top of the scoring chart ahead of Barca’s game at Celta Vigo later yesterday and has scored more goals this term than 53 of the 98 teams in Europe’s top five leagues.
“He improved along with the rest of the players,” Ancelotti said yesterday. “It is good for him and good for the team.”
The victory lifted second-placed Real to within a point of leader Barca, which lost 0-1 at home to Celta in November but is on a seven-match winning streak in all competitions.
Ancelotti said he would gladly swap yesterday’s result for nine 1-0 victories in Real’s remaining La Liga matches this term.
“Of course I would swap, but what should be noted is that the team is playing again in the way it wants to,” he said. “We have to be focused like we were today. Our objectives are closer and the players understand the chance to play as a team, to help the team with their individual quality.”
On Saturday, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla eased to comfortable wins to stay in the hunt for a top-four finish. Atletico won 2-0 at Cordoba after Antoine Griezmann and Saul Niguez scored in the first half to give the league’s bottom side its 10th straight defeat. The defending champion rose into provisional third place.
Fifth-place Sevilla likewise got first-half goals from Aleix Vidal and Carlos Bacca to brush aside visitor Athletic Bilbao 2-0.
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