Rampant Ronaldo raises Real hopes of rare treble
Print Edition
CRISTIANO Ronaldo’s scintillating form and the supporting role played by the likes of Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema suggest Real Madrid has every right to believe a rare treble is well within its grasp.
Barcelona became the only Spanish team to win the Champions League and the domestic league and cup in the same season in 2008-09 but La Liga leader Real is in a strong position to match its arch rival after Ronaldo’s goals helped it put together a 31-match unbeaten run since the end of October.
The Portugal forward and World Player of the Year has scored 41 goals in 37 matches for the world’s richest club this term.
His double in Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Schalke 04, as Real secured its place in the Champions League quarterfinals with a club record 9-2 aggregate success, took his tally in the latest edition of Europe’s elite club competition to 13.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti deployed Ronaldo in the last-16 second leg even though Real was leading 6-1 from the first game in Germany, when he also struck twice and Bale and Benzema each netted doubles.
“I feel good and the coach, who makes these decisions, decided it was good for me to play,” Ronaldo said on UEFA.com. “I scored two goals and helped my team achieve a very important win to keep our good run going.”
With 13 goals in seven games, the 29-year-old former Manchester United player has surpassed his best Champions League haul and is one short of the record of 14 set by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in 2011-12.
Real hosts Barcelona, the last team to beat it, in the La Liga “Clasico” on Sunday, when a win would stretch its lead over the champion to seven points.
Barcelona is third, a point behind second-placed Atletico.
Barcelona and Real also meet in next month’s Copa del Rey final, a repeat of the 2011 showpiece which Real won 1-0.
In Tuesday’s other match, Chelsea also reached the Champions League quarterfinals with a 3-1 aggregate win against Galatasaray.
Chelsea’s clash with the Turkish team was finely balanced after a 1-1 draw in the first leg, but the hosts eased the tension around Stamford Bridge when Samuel Eto’o’s deflected shot crept under ‘keeper Fernando Muslera after four minutes.
Defender Gary Cahill doubled Chelsea’s advantage two minutes before halftime, smashing home from close range after Muslera parried John Terry’s header from a corner.
Chelsea and Real Madrid join Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
