Four-goal Ronaldo silences critics in Celta rout
Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics with four goals in Real Madrid’s 7-1 mauling of Celta Vigo yesterday after being jeered by certain sections of the home support.
And there was further good news for Real as Gareth Bale scored Madrid’s seventh on his first appearance after six weeks out with a calf injury.
There was little evidence that Ronaldo or Real were about to burst into life during a quiet first-half played out in front of a frustrated home crowd.
Ronaldo didn’t make his presence felt until 20 minutes in when his fierce strike from distance was beaten to safety by Ruben Blanco.
The Celta keeper also denied Isco and Casemiro, but the visitors were struggling to deal with cross balls and Pepe powered home the opener five minutes before the break from Isco’s cross.
Ronaldo had controversially claimed Real would be top of the league if the rest of his teammates matched his exacting standards after the Atletico game.
And the Portuguese was met with a few whistles from the crowd early in the second-half after losing possession twice in quick succession.
However, he responded instantly with a dipping strike from 25 yards that flew past Blanco.
Ronaldo i mmediately headed behind the goal with his hand placed to his ear.
More was to come from Ronaldo as he then curled home a brilliant free-kick into the top corner of the net to bring up 250 La Liga goals in just 228 appearances.
Aspas capitalised on the huge amount of space behind the Madrid defence to pull a goal back with a neat chip over Navas.
However, Madrid duly replied with a further three goals in 13 minutes.
First, Ronaldo completed his 30th La Liga hat-trick with a tap in from Isco’s unselfish low cross.
Bale then made his entrance with the Welsh star’s return to fitness being a huge boost for coach Zinedine Zidane ahead of Madrid’s Champions League last-16, second-leg clash with Roma on Tuesday.
Ronaldo headed home his fourth of the afternoon before substitute Jese Rodriguez smashed home Madrid’s sixth after a fine solo run.
And Bale t hen showed what Madrid were missing against Atletico when he fired in his 14th goal of the season.