Cristiano Ronaldo conceded a penalty but scored four goals to make up for it as Real Madrid came from a goal down to demolish Elche 5-1 in a Primera Liga match this evening at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The World Player of the Year took his La Liga tally to nine goals after five matches, while also scoring eight goals in his last three matches in all competitions following his sole goal against Basel a week ago followed by the hattrick at Deportivo La Coruña last weekend.
Elche made a good start to the match, with Albacar testing debutant goalkeeper Keylor Navas with a fifth minute freekick, before Brazil international Marcelo’s attempted clearance nearly trickled into the Real goal in the 13th minute.
Two minutes later and the Bernabeu crowd was stunned to silence as Elche’s bold start to the match was rewarded with Albacar converting a penalty following Ronaldo’s foul on Mosquera in the area.
The shock lead lasted just five minutes however, as Gareth Bale headed in a cross from James Rodriguez to level for Real before roles were reversed moments later, with Ronaldo putting the home side ahead from the penalty spot after a foul by Mosquera.
The Portugal international scored his second to put Real 3-1 up with a 32nd minutd header and could have completed his hattrick five minutes later but saw his foerce freekick towards the top corner kept out by the Elche goalkeeper.
But Ronaldo would eventually wrap up another big win for Los Merengues with a brace in the closing 10 minutes, first with another penalty after being brought down by substitute Mario Pasalic before a stoppage time effort off a pass from Bale.
The win lifts Real to fourth place with nine points from five matches, three points behind Barcelona that could reopen a six-point gap on their archrivals with a win at midtable Malaga on Wednesday night.