Ronaldo double extends Real lead

Real Madrid beat Sporting Gijon in a biblical storm at the Bernabeu and the goals went in two by two for Cristiano Ronaldo whose scoring double left him as La Liga’s top scorer.

After scoring a hat trick in 82 minutes against Atletico Madrid last weekend, Ronaldo scored a penalty kick five minutes in before finishing off this tasty play with a lovely header on 18 minutes.

Los Blancos will travel to Barcelona next week end to play El Clásico and the journalists did not doubt in asking him if he is worry or not:”I’m not anxious, we won won nothing today but we have not lost anything either”.

Zidane withdrew captain Sergio Ramos with an eye on the Clasico next Saturday with the Spanish global a yellow card away from missing that game through suspension. It has won 23 games since then. The best one came with Duje Cop’s shot from the penalty spot but the ball sailed high and wide.

The number 7 for Madrid can lead the line effective, giving the likes of Asensio, Rodriguez, Isco, Morata and Lucas Vasquez a chance to effect the game on either side of Ronaldo as a part of the front three.

The former player restored peace in the dressing room and swiftly embarked on a record-breaking run as the most successful Real Madrid manager in history over the course of his opening 20 games, picking up 53 points.

Jorge Sampaoli’s side restored their advantage through a low strike by Nicolas Pareja in the 75th minute although it took a brilliant save from Sergio Rico deep in stoppage time to deny Jose Gaya an equaliser and secure all three points for Sevilla.

Valencia is 16th in the standings, two points above the relegation zone.

Zinedine Zidane says James Rodriguez will feature more for Real Madrid after dismissing claims of a January exit. Its effort proved fruitless as Ontiveros netted the late victor.

A look at the statistics suggest that Real Madrid win more games without the famed trio of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo (dubbed BBC) than with them.