Cristiano Ronaldo scored a sensational hat-trick as Real Madrid twice came from behind to defeat Villarreal 4-2 on Sunday to maintain their perfect home record and close to within two points of leaders Barcelona.
Portuguese star Ronaldo took his season’s tally to 22 league goals with strikes in the eighth, 44th and 78th minutes after third-placed Villarreal had threatened an upset after twice going in front in a pulsating first half at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday had put the pressure on Real to respond.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Villarreal twice took the lead, only for Ronaldo to pull Real back into the game with his 20th and 21st league goals of the season to cancel goals from Ruben Cani after six minutes and Marco Ruben in the 17th.
In the second half, Ronaldo again took center stage, putting Real ahead in the 78th minute after a mistake from goalkeeper Diego Lopez, before Brazilian substitute Kaka celebrated his return to fitness with his first league goal of the season minutes later.
Real coach Jose Mourinho celebrated wildly on the touchline to the anger of the Villarreal dug-out and the visitors’ coach Juan Carlos Garrido was sent off for protesting that Ronaldo’s third goal was offside.
Real now turn their attention to Thursday’s Copa del Rey quarter-final first-leg clash against city rivals Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu, while Villarreal, now 11 points behind Real in third, face Sevilla in their last-eight cup clash tomorrow.
Villarreal were without Brazilian top-scorer Nilmar, but made a promising start and took a shock sixth-minute lead thanks to a fine goal from Cani.
Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi created the goal with a neat turn and pass to release the winger, who showed great composure to chip the ball over the advancing Iker Casillas.
However, Real responded quickly, equalizing two minutes later through Ronaldo.
Karim Benzema slid a pass to Mesut Ozil, who squared the ball across the face of goal to give the Portuguese an easy tap-in.
Villarreal restored their lead on 17 minutes with striker Ruben racing on to a through ball before dispatching a brilliant lob over Casillas.
With halftime approaching, Real drew level again with Xabi Alonso, curling in a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area and the unmarked Ronaldo heading home.
Real were stronger in the second half, but the breakthrough didn’t come so Mourinho sent on the fit-again Kaka in the final 20 minutes.
However, it was Ronaldo who provided the inspiration, taking -advantage of a Lopez blunder to turn and shoot home 12 minutes from time.
Kaka scored minutes later to deflate Villarreal, who had been on a high after reaching the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey with a midweek win over Valencia.
Valencia bounced back from that cup setback with a 1-0 derby win over Levante to move three points ahead of fifth-placed Espanyol.
Spanish international winger Juan Mata missed a 26th-minute penalty, but made amends with an 82nd minute winner to clinch the three points.
Espanyol got over their recent blip with a comfortable 4-0 home win over Real Zaragoza at the -Cornella-El Prat on Sunday to stay in touch with fourth-placed Valencia.
In other matches, Real Mallorca cruised past Almeria 4-1, Racing Santander and Sporting Gijon drew 1-1, while Osasuna and Getafe finished deadlocked at 0-0.
Additional Reporting by staff writer
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