Ronaldo hits treble in Real rout

Posted Friday, March 04, 2011 by UK.eurosport.yahoo.com

Real Madrid closed the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to seven points with a 7-0 rout of a woeful nine-man Malaga side at the Bernabeu.

Cristiano Ronaldo led from the front with his fourth hat-trick of the season as he took his tally to 31 for the season against a visiting side who looked like they were playing together for the first time.

Relegation-haunted Malaga - managed by former Real head coach Manuel Pellegrini - were lucky to avoid conceding a penalty on 10 minutes when Eliseu clearly barged Karim Benzema in the back.

Jose Mourinho's side finally grabbed the lead on 26 minutes when Xavi Alonso threw over a free-kick for Benzema to convert from five yards.

They made it two seven minutes later when Manolo failed to deal with a Marcelo pass as Angel Di Maria raced away to slide the ball beyond Malaga keeper Willy.

Di Maria played provider for Marcelo a minute before half-time as he thumped the ball home from an acute angle to leave Real on easy street ahead of the second period.

Real continued to search for goals after the break. They added a fourth on 51 minutes when Ronaldo raced onto Mesut Ozil's pass to score before Benzema met Marcelo's cross at the back post with his head for number five on 63 minutes.

Malaga had made five changes from their 3-1 win over Almeria on Monday. Their lack of cohesion showed when they shipped a sixth goal on 68 minutes.

Manolo was sent off for a second yellow card after handling Marcelo's cross in the box before Ronaldo slammed the penalty high into the net.

The chances kept coming and Ronaldo completed the scoring with his hat-trick when he flicked home a lovely cross from substitute Sergio Canales on 77 minutes before leaving the park injured with Real having used their three substitutes.

A frazzled Malaga side ended the match with nine men after Cala was stretchered off injured moments before Ronaldo made it seven.

It was a forgettable return to Madrid for Pellegrini, who paid a heavy price for fielding a weakened side. His team remain second bottom of the table.

In Friday's early evening kick-off, Albert Crusat's 60th minute goal cancelled out Gonzalo Colsa's first-half opener as Almeria battled back to draw 1-1 at home against Racing Santander.