Real Madrid vs. Celta Vigo: Score, Grades and Reaction from La Liga Game
Cristiano Ronaldo hit a hat-trick as Real Madrid extended their winning streak to 18 matches in all competitions with a 3-0 victory at home to Celta Vigo on Saturday at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
Ronaldo put Real ahead with a 36th-minute penalty before adding his side's second 20 minutes into the second half. With Celta searching for a way back into the game, he finished off his hat-trick in the 81st minute to reach 200 career goals in Spain's top flight.
With more than half the season still to play, the Portuguese superstar has now scored 29 goals in all competitions. The hat-trick was the 23rd Ronaldo has scored in La Liga, a record according to ESPN FC.
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Real Madrid's form is just as impressive. Following an inconsistent start to the season, the Blancos have now won 18 consecutive matches in all competitions, including 11 straight in the league.
This latest victory took Madrid onto 36 points through 14 league matches, provisionally four points clear atop the table. Atletico Madrid currently sit in second place with 32 points, but Barcelona (31 points) can cut Real's lead to two points with a win over Espanyol on Sunday.
For both Ronaldo and Real, such impressive form bodes well for the future. Real find themselves in favourable positions in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, where they top their group with a 100 per cent record.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, could be set for more individual glory. After winning the FIFA Ballon d'Or as the world's best player in 2013, Ronaldo is a firm favourite to take home the honour again this year.
Up next, Real Madrid host Ludogorets on Tuesday in both teams' final match of the Champions League group stage. Real can finish with a perfect haul of 18 points with a victory. The Blancos return to Liga action on Friday with a match at Almeria.
Celta Vigo play at Malaga in La Liga next Saturday.
The Bernabeu faithful had plenty of cause for optimism ahead of kick-off. With Real Madrid enjoying a lengthy winning streak in all competitions, reports in Spain (h/t Football Espana and Eurosport) indicated that manager Carlo Ancelotti has agreed to a contract extension.
And the home side's attacking play matched that optimism in the early exchanges. In the 10th minute, Sergio Ramos sliced narrowly wide after Ronaldo knocked down a Toni Kroos corner. Eight minutes later, Ronaldo grazed the top of the net with a spectacular overhead kick.
Ronaldo had another opening in the 27th minute after receiving a pass in the box from Marcelo. This time the Portuguese international hit his shot on target but Celta goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez saved.
Real Madrid won a penalty in the 34th minute. Chasing a lofted pass into the box, Ronaldo went tumbling after being pulled back by Celta's Jonny Castro Otto. After a delay, Ronaldo converted the spot-kick himself, confidently placing the ball in the bottom corner in the 36th minute.
Celta's players were aggrieved by the decision and spent the rest of the half remonstrating with referee Undiano Mallenco. The action continued on the pitch, however, and James Rodriguez nearly doubled Real's lead in the 39th minute with a low shot from outside the box. Alvarez saved at his right-hand post to keep his side in sight of Real at half-time.
The visitors had a chance to equalise in the 46th minute, but Fabian Orellana curled a shot just wide of the far post from the edge of the box. At the other end, Gareth Bale forced Alvarez into a save with a high, stinging drive in the 62nd minute.
But Alvarez was powerless to stop Ronaldo as he doubled Real's advantage in the 65th minute. Kroos initiated the danger with a dribble toward the edge of the box, laying off for Ronaldo. Uncharacteristically, Ronaldo miscontrolled the pass but pounced when Celta's Gustavo Cabral headed the ball into the air. As it came down, Ronaldo volleyed powerfully into the net at the near post for a 2-0 lead.
Celta weren't quite finished yet, despite their deficit. In the 75th minute, Nolito curled a shot off target after dribbling menacingly down the left flank. Five minutes later, he hit a free-kick just wide of the near post.
But if the visitors were barely hanging on by that point, Ronaldo finished them off—along with his hat-trick—in the 81st minute. Following a giveaway in Celta's half, Bale opened up the defence with a pass to Marcelo on the left. Marcelo crossed to the back post for Ronaldo, who bounced a volley into the back of the net for 3-0.
It was Ronaldo's 200th career Liga goal, and it effectively ended the match as a contest. Ronaldo left the match in the 85th minute, replaced by substitute Javier Hernandez after apparently taking a slight knock. The issue appeared minor, however, and Real saw out the closing moments comfortably.
Grades
| Iker Casillas | 6.1 |
| Dani Carvajal | 7.3 |
| Pepe | 7.1 |
| Sergio Ramos | 6.9 |
| Marcelo | 7.4 |
| Gareth Bale | 7.5 |
| Asier Illarramendi | 7.2 |
| Toni Kroos | 7.7 |
| James Rodriguez | 6.5 |
| Karim Benzema | 6.4 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 9.6 |
| Alvaro Arbeloa (for Rodriguez, 53') | 6.0 |
| Fabio Coentrao (for Benzema, 80') | 6.2 |
| Javier Hernandez (for Ronaldo, 85') | No rating |
| Sergio Alvarez | 8.6 |
| Hugo Mallo | 7.4 |
| Gustavo Cabral | 5.5 |
| Andreu Fontas | 7.3 |
| Jonny Castro Otto | 6.8 |
| Michael Krohn-Dehli | 5.4 |
| Pablo Hernandez | 6.7 |
| Nemanja Radoja | 6.1 |
| Fabian Orellana | 6.9 |
| Joaquin Larrivey | 6.4 |
| Nolito | 6.4 |
| Augusto Fernandez (for Orellana, 70') | 6.1 |
| Sergi Gomez (for Cabral, 74') | 6.0 |
| Santi Mina (for Krohn-Dehli, 82') | 6.2 |
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