Ronaldo hits third hat-trick in five games

AFP Madrid, October 6 Cristiano Ronaldo scored his third hat-trick in five games as Real Madrid moved into the top four for the first time this season with a 5-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. It took Ronaldo just two minutes to extend his scoring streak to eight games as he headed home Gareth Bale's cross and Karim Benzema made the game safe when he doubled Madrid's lead just before half-time. Bale teed up Ronaldo once more to make it 3-0 and the Portuguese then turned provider for Benzema to tap home his second of the game. Ronaldo rounded off the scoring two minutes from time when he unintentionally deflected Pepe's effort home to take his tally for the season to 17 goals in just 11 matches in all competitions. Victory takes Real back to within four points of leaders Barcelona behind Valencia and Sevilla, but ahead of champions Atletico Madrid who drop down to fifth. A fourth defeat in five league games for Athletic, meanwhile, means Ernesto Valverde's men end the weekend in the relegation zone. Bale provided the opener on his weaker right foot as he managed to pick out a perfect cross for the unmarked Ronaldo to head home at the back post. Athletic 'keeper Gorka Iraizoz then made a smart save low to his right to deny Ronaldo a second and Benzema just couldn't stretch to turn home another Bale cross as the hosts piled on the pressure. However, the Basques settled midway through the half and Iker Muniain's spectacular dipping volley from the edge of the area forced Iker Casillas into action with a fingertip save. Crucially Real managed to get the second goal before half-time, though, as Benzema rose highest to head Luka Modric's corner in via the crossbar. Bale wasted a great opportunity to make it 3-0 five minutes into the second-half as he blazed over with just Iraizoz to beat. However, the Welshman made amends five minutes later when he raced onto Benzema's pass and squared for Ronaldo to tap home his second of the night. Bale came close again when he shot just wide after being set up by a lovely back heel from James Rodriguez and was then flagged offside when he did finally have the ball in the net. Madrid were continuing to open up the Athletic defence at will and made it 4-0 21 minutes from time when Ronaldo unselfishly squared for Benzema to roll into an empty net rather than going for a hat-trick. Ronaldo did then go in search of his third hat-trick in five games, forcing Iraizoz into a flying save with a powerful header. However, the World Player of the Year wasn't to be denied and registered his 26th hat-trick for the club, albeit with some fortune when he deflected Pepe's effort past the helpless Iraizoz.

Free-scoring Ronaldo has Messi record in his sights

Reuters MADRID, October 6 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, equalling 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. Ronaldo broke Messi's four-year stranglehold on the FIFA Ballon d'Or when he was voted 2013 World Player of the Year and Ancelotti said he had little doubt the Portuguese would claim his second straight award and third overall when the 2014 winner is announced in January. "This year, I don't think there is much doubt," Ancelotti said. "I don't think there's any point in even talking about it." Messi is the only player who can come close to challenging Ronaldo and the Argentina captain's performance at the World Cup, when he led the South American nation to the final, may give him an edge. Ronaldo, who was clearly struggling with injury, had a subdued finals in Brazil as Portugal failed to advance beyond the group stage. One negative side to Sunday's easy win for Real, which lifted them above champions Atletico Madrid into fourth, was an apparent injury to Sergio Ramos which forced the Spain centre back off at halftime. "He was feeling discomfort in his right calf and we preferred to avoid any problems," Ancelotti said. "Tomorrow, tests will be conducted and then he will join up with the national team and they will evaluate his fitness." After the international break, Real's next La Liga outing is at Levante on Oct. 18 and they play at Liverpool in Champions League Group B four days later.