Cristiano Ronaldo nets famous five
Ronaldo has not had a good start to 2015, but he enjoyed filling his boots against a sorry Granada defence, scoring five times in a game for the first time in his career. The Estadio Santiago Bernabeu as a whole enjoyed the lunchtime kick-off, as their team scored nine goals for the first time in almost 50 years to [they hope] move on from their recent 2-1 ‘Clasico’ defeat at Barcelona.
The personal feat took Ronaldo to 36 goals in La Liga already this season, moving back ahead of Barca’s Lionel Messi at the top of Spain’s ‘pichichi’ top scorers race.
Not even this was enough to persuade the current Ballon D’Or holder to go back on his decision to ignore reporters in the Bernabeu mixed-zone, apparently due to negative media coverage of his on and off-pitch exploits through recent months.
The snub brought no punishment from the Madrid-backing press – the top story on Marca’s website through Easter Sunday afternoon was headlined ‘Resurrection’, over a photo of the 30-year-old with his arms outstretched and head thrown back in exultation.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti did not really help feed this narrative however, when encouraged at the post-game press conference to heap more plaudits on Ronaldo.
“Cristiano has improved, as the team has improved,” Ancelotti said. “What more can I say? Scoring five times is good for everyone, for him personally, and for the team. It was important to win, and to play well, and we have done that.”
The idea was not that Ronaldo’s superhuman efforts had helped to pull Madrid out of a slump [one win in five games before yesterday, including the Clasico defeat just before the international break].
Rather, the Italian coach was pretty clearly saying that their main goalscorer had benefitted from the team having played much better than they had recently.
That view was backed up by another look at the five goals. Four were expert first-touch finishes from close range - the type of goal Ronaldo now specialises in. The other was his first strike from outside the area since September, and should really have been saved by Granada keeper Oier Olazabal. A more than presentable chance to finally score a first long-range free kick of the season came to nought.
The display acted as further confirmation that at this stage of his career Ronaldo is a supreme finisher of chances created by his teammates - but not a player who can lift his team on his shoulders when things are going against them.
Gareth Bale’s goal, the opener after Madrid had huffed and puffed through the opening 25 minutes, was closer to the type of standout individual goal Ronaldo used to specialise in scoring.
Bale latched onto a ball behind the Granada defence, easily outmuscled marker Diego Mainz, skillfully took the ball around Oier, and kept his calm to finish from a tight angle. The Welsh winger also provided assists for two of Ronaldo’s goals - one a very unselfish pass when both were clean through with only the keeper to face.
Returning from two months out with a broken foot, James Rodriguez also played his part with an excellent showing in midfield - getting the ball forward quickly and accurately to feed the big beasts up front. Ancelotti now has all his big name ‘galacticos’ fit, and an interesting selection dilemma to face.
Ronaldo will likely garner more headlines through the coming weeks as both the La Liga title race, and his personal battle with Messi, go to the wire. But the immediate futures of both Madrid and their top scorer will rely on the team as a whole upping their game.
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