Cristiano Ronaldo scoring sensational goals is hardly anything new, but the Real Madrid star delivered a remarkable opener – even by his own astronomical standards – as Los Blancos cruised to an almost embarrassingly comfortable 5-0 victory over rock-bottom Real Betis last night.
The Portuguese ace needed less than 10 minutes to break the deadlock, racing towards goal from the centre of the field before launching an exquisitely timed right-footed shot – rarely can a football field have witnessed a sweeter strike – which left home keeper Stephan Andersen rooted to the spot as it flew into the top right corner.
Ronaldo’s moment of brilliance was soon followed by a deliciously curled free-kick from Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema side-footed home on the stroke of half-time to establish a 3-0 lead.
Angel Di Maria ensured all four of Madrid’s attacking players got on the scoresheet with another powerful long-range effort, and substitute Alvaro Morata also got in on the act with a scrappy late fifth.
Madrid’s victory keeps the pressure on top two Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who enter their games today with Carlo Ancelotti’s men now level on points at the top of the table.
From Betis’ point of view, Ronaldo’s opener was even more galling because they had started the game reasonably well, competing evenly with their illustrious visitors and managing the first shot on target when Ruben Castro’s 20-yard curler was too close to Diego Lopez.
Madrid never looked back after going ahead, however, and Ronaldo nearly made it two when he cut inside from the left and fired a dangerous ball low and hard across the face of goal.
Ronaldo was again involved in the second goal, winning a freekick on the edge of the area. Bale stepped up and took full advantage of Pepe making a gap in the defensive wall, curling a perfectly placed left-footed strike inside the righthand post.
Betis were being overwhelmed, but they should have pulled one back when on-loan Atletico Madrid forward Leo Baptistao advanced down the right and delivered a brilliant cross into the path of Castro – but the striker allowed himself to be distracted by Sergio Ramos’ challenge and the ball flew harmlessly across the face of goal.
Madrid made it three seconds before the break, when the outstanding Luka Modric took advantage of hesitant defending to run into the box before cutting inside to deliver a pass into Benzema’s path for a simple tap-in.
Ronaldo sent two long-range efforts off target and was then denied by a series of excellent saves from Andersen. But the Betis keeper couldn’t survive forever, and he was beaten for the fourth time when a corner was cleared as far as Di Maria who promptly drilled a sweetly-struck left-footed effort into the bottom right corner from 30 yards.
Ronaldo, Benzema and Modric all came close from the edge of the box as the Madrid onslaught continued.
Betis didn’t seriously threaten at all in the second period, and the scoring was completed in the final minute when substitute Morata latched onto Ronaldo’s mis-hit attempt at an overhead kick to prod home from close range.
