Red-hot Ronaldo’s brace gets Madrid back on track

RONALDO returned to the type of form that won him three World Player of the Year awards by getting two goals in Real Madrid’s emphatic 3-0 victory at bottom club Alaves on Sunday.

“This was a great victory. Football is like that and, in the end, the footballer with talent and quality is the one that makes the difference,” said Real coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, paying tribute to the player he discovered.

The triumph will take the pressure off Luxemburgo after speculation that the Brazilian coach’s job was in jeopardy after three consecutive losses before Real’s 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.