Spanish La Liga
Real MadridReal Madrid7Celta VigoCelta Vigo1

Real Madrid 7-1 Celta de Vigo

Ronaldo scores with a header against Celta Vigo
Cristiano Ronaldo is the top scorer in La Liga this season

Cristiano Ronaldo scored four times as Real Madrid cruised to a 7-1 win over Celta Vigo to move within a point of second-placed Atletico Madrid.

Ronaldo claimed his fifth hat-trick of the season to take his total to 39.

He struck three times in 15 minutes after the break, after Pepe had headed Real into a 1-0 half-time lead.

Iago Aspas pulled a goal back but Ronaldo completed his treble and headed in a fourth before Jese and Gareth Bale, on his comeback, scored late on.

How the action unfolded

Ronaldo's efforts - which took him past 350 goals for Real Madrid and up to second in La Liga history with 252 - saw Real bounce back from losing to Atletico in their previous home game, a 1-0 defeat that virtually ended their hopes of catching Barcelona at the top of the table.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebration
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 27 goals in La Liga this season and is second only to Lionel Messi in the league's all-time standings after surpassing the 251 of former Athletic Bilbao striker Telmo Zarra.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebration
Ronaldo attracted some criticism from whistling Real fans before scoring his first goal

That led to some unrest in the Bernabeu and Celta, who were unbeaten in three games in their pursuit of a place in the Europa League, should have gone ahead when ex-Liverpool striker Aspas headed against a post.

But Pepe calmed things down as he nodded in his first goal of the season from an Isco corner.

Real were below full strength but overwhelmed Celta in the second half as they gave themselves the perfect preparation for the second leg of their Champions League last 16-tie, which they lead 2-0, at home to Roma on Tuesday night.

Gareth Bale celebration
Gareth Bale has now scored 10 goals in his last six appearances for Real Madrid

Ronaldo lashed in a dipping, 25-yard drive five minutes after the break before curling a superb free-kick into the top corner.

Aspas coolly lifted his 10th league goal of the season over Keylor Navas to make it 3-1, but Ronaldo then tapped in his third goal to claim his 36th hat-trick in Spanish football.

With Celta's defence struggling, Ronaldo headed in from a corner and Jese ran through to slot the sixth before Bale, back from a calf problem that has kept him out since mid-January, completed the rout with a run and low shot which went in off a post.

Real Madrid supporters protest
Real Madrid supporters protested against club president Florentino Perez, after slipping so far behind in the title race

What they said

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane: "You know Cristiano, he is capable of scoring four goals and there are very few people capable of doing that. That is why he is unique.

"It is part of football that the fans whistle now and then.

"They are demanding fans, but at the same time they know their players well and always want more. That is good to help us improve and do more."

Line-ups

Real Madrid

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Navas
  • 15CarvajalSubstituted forMarceloat 77'minutes
  • 4Ramos
  • 3PepeBooked at 29mins
  • 23DaniloBooked at 25mins
  • 16Kovacic
  • 14Casemiro
  • 22IscoSubstituted forBaleat 65'minutes
  • 18Vázquez
  • 29Mayoral MoyaSubstituted forRodríguez Ruizat 70'minutes
  • 7Cristiano Ronaldo

Substitutes

  • 2Varane
  • 6Nacho
  • 10Rodríguez
  • 11Bale
  • 12Marcelo
  • 13Casilla
  • 20Rodríguez Ruiz

Celta Vigo

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 13Blanco Veiga
  • 19Castro OttoBooked at 59mins
  • 2Mallo Novegil
  • 20Gómez Solà
  • 21Planas Antolínez
  • 18WassSubstituted forBeauvueat 77'minutes
  • 5Díaz
  • 14Orellana ValenzuelaBooked at 85mins
  • 8HernándezSubstituted forRadojaat 35'minutes
  • 10NolitoBooked at 40mins
  • 9Iago AspasSubstituted forGuidettiat 67'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Álvarez Conde
  • 6Radoja
  • 7Bongonda Mbul'Ofeko Batombo
  • 11Guidetti
  • 12Beauvue
  • 16Drazic
  • 23Señé Escudero
Referee:
Jesús Gil Manzano
Attendance:
64,432

Match Stats

Home TeamReal MadridAway TeamCelta Vigo
Possession
Home56%
Away44%
Shots
Home20
Away8
Shots on Target
Home12
Away3
Corners
Home10
Away5
Fouls
Home13
Away12

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Real Madrid 7, Celta de Vigo 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Real Madrid 7, Celta de Vigo 1.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Casemiro (Real Madrid).

  4. Post update

    Guidetti (Celta de Vigo) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  5. Post update

    Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Orellana.

  6. Post update

    Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Hugo Mallo.

  7. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Danilo.

  8. Post update

    Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Guidetti (Celta de Vigo).

  10. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez.

  11. Post update

    Offside, Celta de Vigo. Sergi Gómez tries a through ball, but Nolito is caught offside.

  12. Booking

    Orellana (Celta de Vigo) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  13. Post update

    Pepe (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Orellana (Celta de Vigo).

  15. Post update

    Attempt missed. Casemiro (Real Madrid) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the left. Assisted by Mateo Kovacic.

  16. Post update

    Attempt saved. Claudio Beauvue (Celta de Vigo) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Guidetti.

  17. Post update

    Corner, Celta de Vigo. Conceded by Pepe.

  18. Goal!

    Goal! Real Madrid 7, Celta de Vigo 1. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Casemiro.

  19. Goal!

    Goal! Real Madrid 6, Celta de Vigo 1. Jesé (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Celta de Vigo. Claudio Beauvue replaces Daniel Wass.

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Saturday 5th March 2016