Ronaldo fires hat trick for Madrid
madrid — Cristiano Ronaldo scored his third hat-trick of the season and Gareth Bale provided another assist as Real Madrid continued their impressive form with a 5-1 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday. Ronaldo opened the scoring from Karim Benzema’s pass on 12 minutes before returning the favour for the Frenchman to slot home six minutes later.
The Portuguese added the third from the penalty spot before Bale played in Sami Khedira to make it 4-0 after just 36 minutes.
Antoine Griezmann restored some pride for the visitors with his sixth goal in his last three league games after the break.
But Ronaldo rounded off the scoring with a sensational free- kick to take his tally for the season to 24 goals in just 17 games.
Victory moves Real to within two points of neighbours Atletico Madrid and three of leaders Barcelona with the top two both in action on Sunday.
Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema started together up front for the fourth consecutive game after combining for 12 goals and eight assists in the previous three.
And it didn’t take the hosts long to get into their stride as Ronaldo fired a dipping long-range effort off the top of the crossbar after just eight minutes.
The Portuguese did then open the scoring four minutes later when he controlled Benzema’s clever low cross inside the area before smash- ing the ball past the helpless Claudio Bravo.
Bale then teed up Ronaldo for another fiercely struck effort that Bravo captured at the second attempt. And Ronaldo turned provider moments later as his cutback from the by-line picked out Benzema inside the box and he stroked home his eighth goal of the season. It was 3-0 before the half-hour mark as Markel Bergara was harshly penalised for handling Ronaldo’s fiercely struck effort and the former Manchester United man stepped up to double his tally for the afternoon.
Bale then passed up his first big opportunity when he side-footed wide after being played in by the impressive Luka Modric.—