An historic Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick gave Real Madrid a 3-0 victory over Celta De Vigo.
The home side took the game from the off with Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos and Ronaldo all came close before Ronaldo converted from the penalty spot, Fabian Orellana had a good opportunity for the opponents at the beginning of the second half but normal service was resumed when Ronaldo got his second in the 65th minute and then the third ten minutes from the end.
Madrid dominated from the first whistle when Ronaldo put a hopeful ball into the back post looking for Bale but the Welshman couldn’t quite pull off the overhead kick, the Portugal international then rose highest to Toni Kroos’ corner which could only be parried by Sergio Alvarez into the path of Sergio Ramos but he put his shot well wide from as little as a yard from goal.
Jonny did brilliantly to prevent the first goal of the evening, James Rodriguez put a good early ball into the area looking for Ronaldo but the defender does brilliantly to get a foot to the cross to take it away from the winger, he then almost pulled off the spectacular when he got on the end of Asier Illarramendi’s cross and showed spectacular technique to attempt the overhead kick and it just rippled the roof of the net.
Ronaldo continued to wreak havoc on the Vigo defence taking down a brilliant Marcello ball and held off the pressure to get his shot away but Valvarez again does well to push it behind at the near post. He then turned provider picking out Rodriguez who turned to face goal but his attempt was easy for the keeper.
In the 34th minute Madrid finally took the lead, Ronaldo attempted to get on the end of a cross but looked to be bundled over by Jonny and the referee pointed to the spot despite the protests from the Vigo players, it was never in any doubt that 29-year-old wouldn’t step up to take the penalty and he coolly buried it in the bottom corner for his 21st league goal of the season.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side weren’t finished there with Rodriguez being played in by Kroos aiming for the bottom corner and Valvarez was there again to push it away.
Madrid were given a scare early in the second half with Orellana coming very close to equalising with his curling effort just wide of the post, Karim Benzema scooped the ball brilliantly over the defence to Ronaldo but the flag was up over on the far side. The Vigo keeper was called into action once again when Pepe played a good ball to Bale and the 28-year-old did enough to block the winger’s thunderous effort.
The home side got their second in the 65th minute, an attempted headed clearance in the area fell kindly for Ronaldo and struck a sweet first-time volley into the bottom corner.
Benzema had a good opportunity to make it three when he bared down on goal and attempted to scoop it over the keeper but Jonny did enough to distract the Frenchman and Alvarez handled it with ease. Vigo came very close to getting one back when Gabriel Milito when his costless-kick just rippled the side netting.
Nine minutes from the end the three points and the historical hat-trick were sealed, Bale played it through to Marcelo who clipped it towards the back post and an unmarked Ronaldo was there to tap it in.
It was an impressive performance from Real Madrid who are for the time being five points ahead of Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table, but the night belongs to one Cristiano Ronaldo who claimed his 23rd La Liga hat-trick another record to add to the collection and it is impossible to see where his magnificent form will end.