Cristiano
Ronaldo scored the 29th hat-trick of his Real Madrid career to drag his
team back up to just two points behind Barcelona with a 3-2 win over
Sevilla.
It
was the first time Unai Emery’s side had been beaten at home in 35
games and it was Ronaldo that ended that 15 month unbeaten run.
In
the hours leading up to the game, it cannot have made pleasant
pre-match viewing as he watched Barcelona put eight past Cordoba and
Lionel Messi score his 40th and 41st goal of the season but he responded
in the best possible way.
Cristiano Ronaldo led Real Madrid to victory and scored twice for his team in the first half of the game
Ronaldo (third left) scored twice in the 36th and 37th minute of the game against Sevilla
Ronaldo (right) celebrates in the first half with Marcelo (left) and Javier Hernandez
Ronaldo
got two of his goals while Sevilla had a player off receiving
treatment. Sergio Ramos gave away a penalty which Carlos Bacca scored
just before half time but Ronaldo headed in substitute Gareth Bale’s
cross to mean even a late Vicente Iborra goal could not prevent Real
taking all three points.
Ronaldo came into the game having scored 18 goals against Sevilla including four goals in one game.
He
had the first chance with a free-kick that he blazed over and his next
shot from distance went the same way with Marcelo better placed and free
for a pass on the left. The full-back then crossed but Sevilla keeper
Sergio Rico denied Ronaldo from close range.
Sevilla
were a threat too and Aleix Vidal could have scored had Iker Casillas
not got something on his shot, leaving Rafael Varane to clear from just
inside the six-yard box.
Carlos
Bacca was proving a handful for both Varane and Pepe who partnered each
other with Ramos moved into midfield. The Columbian crossed from the
right and Jose Antonio Reyes couldn’t quite stretch to turn the ball in.
The
former Arsenal winger has reinvented himself back at his first club
Sevilla. Now the team’s 31-years-old captain, he was operating more
centrally and deeper against one of his former clubs and the home side
were a match for their rivals until they spent seven minutes with just
ten men and conceded twice before they got their injured player back on.
Of
all the heads to have smack back into his nose when going up for a
header Ramos's would be the last Grzegorz Krychowiak would have chosen.
He clashed with the granite Spain international and was taken off the
pitch to have the blood cleaned from his face.
Ronaldo runs over to the Madrid supporters as his goals kept the team two points behind Barcelona
Ronaldo (right) tussles with the Sevilla goalscorer Carlos Bacca during the La Liga encounter
Ronaldo (right) celebrates victory with his Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti
While he was away Ronaldo gave Sevilla a bloody nose to match Krychowiak’s
First
Isco crossed and Ronaldo headed past Rico, and no sooner had Ronaldo
drawn level with Messi on 40 goals as La Liga’s top scorer, he had gone
ahead.
James
Rodriguez crossed from the right, Javier Hernandez flicked the ball on
and Ronaldo stabbed it past Rico from close range. From deuce to
advantage Cristiano with league goal number 41.
Having
left the pitch at 0-0 Krychowiak returned with his side 2-0 down. It
should have been Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti who went down the
tunnel at half time the happier of the two managers instead he was left
fuming when Sevilla pulled a goal back.
It
was Ramos who had thrown Sevilla a lifeline back into the game. He only
has one fault as a player - the daft challenge, and it's cost him
countless red cards and just as many penalties throughout his career.
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