Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 25th hat-trick for Real Madrid as he grabbed four goals in a 5-1 home win over Elche.
Three days after netting three in an 8-2 victory away to Deportivo La Coruna, the Ballon d’Or winner remarkably went one better at the Bernabeu for Carlo Ancelotti’s team. Edu Albacar had briefly put Elche in front, with a 15th-minute penalty after Ronaldo fouled Pedro Mosquera, but that only stirred Real and their early offender into action.
Gareth Bale scored Real’s equaliser after 20 minutes before Ronaldo took over, burying penalties for his first and third goals, either side of heading home a Marcelo cross from the left for his second. A measured pass from Bale gave Ronaldo shooting space for his fourth in second-half stoppage time, with the ragged Elche defence parting to allow the Portuguese forward an absurd level of freedom.
What is most impressive about Ronalso’s 25 hat-tricks is that they have came in little over five years, and with 21 trebles in the Primera Division alone he stands just one behind club record holder Alfredo Di Stefano.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti believes Ronaldo’s three-week break at the start of the season to ease knee and hamstring injuries is the reason for his sensational form.
“It is clear that has helped because he needed a period of time to work with the seriousness and professionalism he has,” said Ancelotti. “At the moment he is physically in very good shape, he is very motivated and he is scoring a lot.”
After their punishing win at the hands of Ronaldo and team-mates on Saturday, Deportivo La Coruna could not find a winning response. They suffered a 2-1 defeat away to unbeaten Celta Vigo, missing the chance to take a draw when Haris Medunjanin missed an 88th-minute penalty.
Celta went ahead after three minutes when Nolito cut in from the left and after a mazy run fired home with power. Isaac Cuenca levelled in the 55th minute after some smart footwork and a sharp finish to the bottom left corner, but a powerful 72nd-minute header from Joaquin Larrivey, who met Nolito’s corner six yards out, proved to be the winner. Sergio got down smartly to his left to keep out the late spot-kick.
