Zaragoza 0 : 6 Real Madrid - Ronaldo inspires Real rout

Posted Sunday, August 28, 2011 by PA

Cristiano Ronaldo struck a hat-trick as Real Madrid started their Primera Division campaign in ominous fashion with a thumping 6-0 away victory over outclassed Real Zaragoza.

Ronaldo, who won the European Golden Shoe last season after netting 40 times in La Liga, netted in the 24th, 71st and 87th minutes to complete yet another treble for Madrid - the £80million man scored at least three goals in a competitive match seven times last term.

Marcelo, Xabi Alonso and Kaka were also on the scoresheet for Jose Mourinho's men, who but for some fine saves from Zaragoza goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez and some indifferent finishing would have been celebrating an even bigger victory.

Madrid, who were beaten 3-2 at home by Zaragoza in April as they ended up finishing second to arch rivals Barcelona, were in charge almost from kick-off and Mesut Ozil and Karim Benzema had both been denied by Roberto before Ronaldo opened the scoring.

The chance was created by playmaker Ozil, whose superb threaded through-ball into the area was perfect for Ronaldo to race onto and slot a first-time shot past Ricardo.

Four minutes later Madrid were celebrating a second following a good move that resulted in Sergio Ramos dinking the ball back from the goalline to near the penalty spot, where Marcelo took one touch before firing into the corner.

That lead was no more that dominant Madrid deserved and the only surprise was they were not further in front by half-time, with Ronaldo seeing three efforts saved by Ricardo.

Zaragoza had been outclassed but they had a half-chance to pull a goal back on the stroke of half-time when Paulo Da Silva met a deep free-kick at the far post, but his header went wide.

The second half continued with Madrid making all the running, and they spurned two great chances to increase their lead in the opening 10 minutes of the period.

The first saw Angel Di Maria poke wide from eight yards out after Ricardo had spilled a Ronaldo shot, and then Benzema was denied by the home keeper after the Frenchman, who has been in prolific form in pre-season, had intercepted a dreadful attempted pass by Da Silva across the face of his own box.

Ronaldo had another effort saved by Ricardo before Alonso made it 3-0 in the 64th minute, the Spain international drilling a low shot into the corner of the net after the ball had fallen to him 25 yards out.

Ronaldo headed over before the world's most expensive player doubled his tally for the night with a tap-in from close range following a clinical Madrid counter-attack.

Madrid continued to create chances in the closing stages and they added a fifth through substitute Kaka, who turned inside the area before thumping an unstoppable finish past Ricardo.

That was in the 82nd minute and there was still time for Ronaldo to complete his hat-trick, the Portugal international slotting into an empty net after Kaka's cross-shot had been half-stopped by Ricardo.