Cristiano Ronaldo served a warning to Bayern Munich with a sensational double in Real Madrid’s routine 4-0 win over Osasuna.
The result keeps Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the title hunt, pulling them to within three points of pacesetters Atletico Madrid, and will boost Los Blancos ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg in Germany next week.
Ronaldo gave Real Madrid the lead in style, cutting inside off the left wing to fire a wickedly swerving and dipping shot into the bottom corner, taking his league tally for the season to 29.
Los Blancos never looked troubled in the first half and were perhaps unfortunate not to go into the break with a more commanding lead, with Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric all coming close to adding a second.
Ronaldo grabbed a second, once again cutting inside off the wing to smash a pinpoint strike into the top corner.
And Ramos finally found the goal he’d been desperate for all night after 60 minutes, getting on the end of Angel Di Maria’s wicked cross to power home with his head.
Dani Carvajal completed the scoring, lobbing the opposition keeper with a deft header from a measured Isco pass into the box.
KEY EVENTS
7’ GOAL - Wow! Incredible from Ronaldo. He cuts inside off the left wing, and smashes a shot into the bottom corner. It dips and swerves, moving all over the place. No chance for the keeper!
29’ SO CLOSE! - Woooft! Ronaldo lines up a freekick from an incredibly tight angle, and strikes the ball just inches wide of the post. I thought it was in for a moment! Sensational technique, and he looks in the mood tonight.
36’ TRAINING GROUND MOVE - Well, that was different. Ronaldo plays a wonderful chipped pass from the freekick, but Ramos blasts over the bar on the volley. He was unmarked! That's clearly something Real Madrid have worked on at the training ground.
51’ GOAL - Oh. My. Goodness! You thought his first goal was good? This is even better! He cuts inside and from 25 yards sticks the ball into the top corner. No chance for Andres.
59’ GOAL - Ramos has his goal! Di Maria plays an excellent cross into the box, and the defender, who has been desperate for a goal all night, powers it home with his head.
82’ GOAL - Another excellent goal. Isco picks out the run of Carvajal, who has a look around and sees Andres off his line before flicking it over him with his head.
KEY STATS
Cristiano Ronaldo has now tied Luis Suarez on 30 goals in the race for the European Golden Boot.
For the first time in the league this season, Diego Lopez didn’t face a single shot.
TALKING POINT – Is Ronaldo about to tear Bayern Munich to pieces?
This was a warning for Pep Guardiola’s side. Give Ronaldo too much freedom and he will do this to your team. Ronaldo will be even more important for Real Madrid on Tuesday as they look to catch Bayern on the break. This wasn’t a bad warm up for that test.
MAN OF THE MATCH – Cristiano Ronaldo
For someone supposed to be nursing an injury, the Portuguese winger looked in pretty good nick. He now has 30 goals in the league this season, but I doubt he’s scored two better goals out of that tally than he did tonight. You need to see them to believe them.
PLAYER RATINGS
Real Madrid – Lopez 5, Carvajal 6, Ramos 7, Nacho 6, Varane 6, Marcelo 6, Di Maria 6, Modric 6, Isco 8, Casemiro 5, Alonso 5, Illarramendi 6, Ronaldo 9, Morata 7.
Osasuna – Andres 7, Flano 5, Arribas 6, Oriol 5, Damia 4, Oier 5, De Las Cuevas 4, Armenteros 7, Punal 5, Cejudo 5, Loe 4, Lobato 4, Riera 6, Acuna 6.
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