Ronaldo’s double puts Real on verge of title
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane praised Cristiano Ronaldo for his form after his side closed in on the LaLiga title.
Ronaldo scored a brace as Madrid claimed a 4-1 win at Celta Vigo on Wednesday, moving them three points clear atop the table. He broke yet another record, becoming the all-time leading goal-scorer in the top five European leagues. Zidane hailed the Portuguese forward, who has scored 13 goals in his past eight games.
“He’s feeling great and he’s shown it again here. He has put in a massive shift and worked really hard defensively too,” he said.
“You can tell from the way he’s playing that he’s in very good nick. For a long time now we’ve been saying that the team is in good shape physically and today they’ve proved that.”
Madrid only need a draw from their final league game of the season at Malaga on Sunday to secure a first LaLiga crown since 2012. Zidane urged his team to continue pushing ahead of their trip to the Estadio La Rosaleda.
“There’s still one game to go and we have to get something out of it. We must continue on in the same vein because the title race isn’t over just yet,” he said.
“It was important for us to win and we’re really pleased with the three points. “It all comes down to the final game and it’ll be tough, just like tonight’s game.”
Meanwhile, Ronaldo saluted Zidane for his management of the Real Madrid squad this season. “The boss has managed things very well this year,” he said. “We have a very good squad with lots of good young players and others with experience.
“I have been rested a bit more this year in order to be in good shape at the end of the season. It has worked well as this is when things are decided. We still have one game to go. We know we have to keep going until the end.
Ronaldo scored twice in Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Celta Vigo, which helped them leapfrog Barcelona to the top of the La Liga table. The Los Blancos, with 90 points in their kitty, lead the Catalans by three points and need a draw in their last match against Malaga to clinch the title.
the brace, the 32-year-old forward surpassed former England international Jimmy Greaves’ record for scoring most goals in Europe’s top-five leagues which had stood for 46 years.
“We are going to Malaga to win the game, that’s always our objective. We are Madrid; we must show that we are the best team and that we’re champions.”
ON TRACK Manager Zidane praises forward’s effort in 41 demolition of Celta Vigo
is scoring at will, his rival
(left) is not too far behind and sits just 21 goals adrift.
at which the Barcelona talisman gets his goals, he is well set to surpass Bayern Munich’s Gerd Muller (365 goals) and Greaves next season. The Argentine is also three years younger to Ronaldo and may well overtake him if he keeps up his scoring rate.