Ronaldo’s treble inspires Real thrash Espanyol 6-0 in La Liga

Cristiano Ronaldo hit yet another hat-trick for Real Madrid who swept aside Espanyol 6-0 in a ruthless attacking display in La Liga last night.

Karim Benzema headed in a whipped cross from James Rodriguez after seven minutes and then Ronaldo won and struck home a penalty.

A fizzing Ronaldo strike made it 4-0 by half-time, and he completed a hat-trick by heading in a Jese cross, before Oscar Duarte scored a late own goal.

Real Madrid winger Denis Cheryshev will join Sevilla on Monday in what must be one of the most ironic signings of the winter transfer window. It was also the kind of goal Cristian Ronaldo scored far more frequently in the past, so it was nice to see him shaking off the rust today. Zizou has arrived with different ideas and we have to continue like this.

The pressure on Valencia boss Gary Neville increased on Sunday after they lost 1-0 at home to Sporting Gijon.

After winning his first two games in charge with the team scoring 10 goals in the process, Zidane suffered his first setback when Real drew 1-1 at Betis last weekend.

Lithuanian goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis is likely to be named on the bench after arriving on a loan deal from Premier League club Watford.

“We will make a decision on whether James starts tomorrow”.

Benzema could have made it four shortly after following an intelligent one-two with Isco, but he aimed just wide from eight yards out.

Ronaldo went on a spectacular dribble to ditch two defenders before blasting in the fourth before halftime.

Antonio Sanabria’s penalty five minutes into the second-half handed Sporting their first away win since October as Valencia paid for missing a host of clear-cut chances, most notably through captain Alvaro Negredo. Despite this, the catalán side who at thirteenth in the table, find themselves just four points about the relegation zone.

Kevin Gameiro played a starring role as Sevilla climbed to fifth following a 3-1 win over bottom club Levante.