Ronaldo’s hat trick gets Madrid in gear for PSG

BARCELONA, Spain — Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first hat trick of the season four days before Real Madrid meets Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League with its season on the line.

Ronaldo’s treble of goals on Saturday fuelled a 5-2 victory at home over a disconcerted Real Sociedad.

Madrid has had a disappointing season and needed a strong performance before PSG visits the Santiago Bernabeu in the last 16.

With Spanish leader Barcelona still a massive 16 points ahead, Madrid’s only real chance to end the season with major silverware rests on becoming European champion for a third consecutive year.

“From the first moment, we played with intensity,” Madrid defender Sergio Ramos said. “I would be lying if I said we weren’t thinking about Wednesday’s match in the second half because our season is at stake against PSG.

“Our goal is to arrive in the best shape possible for Wednesday.”

PSG also won ahead of its visit to the Spanish capital as Neymar scored to help beat Toulouse 1-0 in France.

Madrid took the lead before a minute was up and led 4-0 by halftime. Ronaldo and Karim Benzema also hit the woodwork in a first half dictated by Madrid, which used its pressure to perfection.

Just 49 seconds in, Ronaldo crossed the ball to the penalty spot where Lucas Vazquez turned it in with a header.

Ronaldo fired in a low cross in a play that began when Marco Asensio duped two defenders with a deft spin.

Ronaldo got his hat trick in the 80th, off a spilled save by goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.

Madrid moved into third place, two points above Valencia, which plays Levante on Sunday.