MADRID — Not content with setting a record of 17 goals for one edition of the Champions League last season, Cristiano Ronaldo is already well on the way towards breaking Lionel Messi’s La Liga best haul of 50 goals in one campaign.
Ronaldo netted his third hat trick this term in Sunday’s 5-0 drubbing of a sorry Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabeu, taking his overall tally to an outrageous 13 in six appearances in 2014-15.
It was the Portuguese World Player of the Year’s 22nd treble for the European champions, equaling the La Liga record jointly held by Alfredo Di Stefano and Telmo Zarra, and putting him three clear of Barcelona forward Messi’s hat trick haul.
On a night when he again appeared simply unstoppable, Ronaldo unselfishly set up Karim Benzema to score and Gareth Bale made two assists as Real’s formidable attacking trio known as “BBC” destroyed the struggling Basque side.
“The three up front played fantastically,” coach Carlo Ancelotti purred at his post-match news conference. “When they are in that kind of mood they are fundamental for the team,” added the Italian.
Madrid rose past Atletico Madrid into fourth place, four points behind leader Barcelona. Valencia is in second place in front of Sevilla in third after it beat visitor Deportivo La Coruna 4-1.
Also, Villarreal dealt Celta Vigo its first loss of the season with a 3-1 road win, while Espanyol downed Real Sociedad 2-0 at home in its most solid performance under new coach Sergio Gonzalez.
Since losing back-to-back games, Madrid has won six in a row in all competitions and outscored its opponents 27-5.
Bilbao arrived without injured striker Aduriz Aritz and with its morale down after its 2-1 defeat at BATE of Belarus Tuesday in the Champions League.
Madrid jumped on its struggling visitors early with an electric start.
Bale found Ronaldo at the far post to head in the opener under goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz, and Benzema rose above his marker to nod in a corner kick to put Madrid in control by halftime. Bilbao hasn’t won at the Santiago Bernabeu since 2005, during Ernesto Valverde’s first stint as coach. And once again, Bilbao’s attacking strategy and high defensive line gave Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema plenty of room to romp.
Bale streaked down the right side before squaring for the unmarked Ronaldo to make it 3-0. Then it was Ronaldo’s turn to beat Bilbao’s offside trap and generously lay off for Benzema to get his second goal.
Ronaldo called Benzema the “best striker in the league” and applauded Bale’s contribution.
“We are used to playing together and we link up very well,” Ronaldo said.
It could have been much worse for Bilbao. Iraizoz made eight saves and a pair of one-handed stops to deny Ronaldo and Bale before the final whistle.
But Iraizoz could do nothing but watch when Pepe’s off-target shot hit Ronaldo’s arm pressed against his flank and bounce into the net to cap the demolition. — Agencies
