Ronaldo hits four for rampant Madrid
Saturday, October 23, 2010
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Cristiano Ronaldo took his tally to ten goals in eight Liga games this term with four in Real Madrid CF's 6-1 defeat of Real Racing Club, on a night when FC Barcelona won and Valencia CF lost.
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Cristiano Ronaldo helped himself to four goals as leaders Real Madrid CF hit top gear in a 6-1 defeat of Real Racing Club which keeps Los Merengues a point clear of an FC Barcelona team who defeated Real Zaragoza.
Two strikes from Lionel Messi, his second coming after Ponzio (47) was dismissed for an altercation with Daniel Alves, had enabled Barça to temporarily steal a march on their Liga rivals in the early game. Madrid responded in emphatic fashion, however, by blowing away Racing at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
Gonzalo Higuaín began the scoring in the tenth minute when he ran on to Ángel Di María's searching pass and drilled past Toño. Ronaldo then swept in Higuaín's ball across the area before finishing off Mesut Özil's pass on 27 minutes. He completed his hat-trick shortly after the break and added number four, from the spot, and Madrid's fifth on 55 minutes.
Özil rounded off the scoring for José Mourinho's team, who conceded late on through Markus Rosenborg's effort. Valencia CF, meanwhile, spurned the opportunity to keep pace with Barcelona. Unai Emery's side were beaten 2-1 at home by RCD Mallorca, for whom Gonzalo Castro scored twice in the first half.