Cristiano Ronaldo scored four as Real Madrid thumped Celta Vigo 7-1 in La Liga on Saturday, keeping their slim title hopes alive in the process.
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“In the dressing room we have talked about playing a faster style so that we can do more damage to our opponents”.
Madrid have endured a awful season on and off the field as they were also eliminated from the Copa del Rey for fielding an eligible player, whilst Rafael Benitez was sacked as coach after just seven months in charge in January. That is good in order to improve and do more.
Bale’s return to something like fitness is a timely piece of good news for Real, who are now without Karim Benzema due to a thigh injury and entertain Roma in the Champions League last 16, second leg next week leading 2-0 from the first leg.
The concern for Madrid might be that most of their remaining home matches are against better teams that try to compete with them in the Bernabeu-Sevilla, Villarreal, Valencia, Eibar, Celta, so five wins are not totally assured.
Three-time Ballon d’Or victor Cristiano Ronaldo netted the opening goal at the 34th minute via a penalty kick before newcomer striker Borja Mayoral struck the ball onto Levante goalie Diego Marino for an own goal four minutes later. “And then, when you score goals, everything’s easier”, Zidane said.
Ronaldo wheeled away in celebration with hand cupped to his ear after smashing home Madrid’s second after Pepe had headed Zinedine Zidane’s men in front before half-time.
Ronaldo hit the bar with another free-kick before Aspas capitalised on the huge amount of space in behind the Madrid defence to pull a goal back with a neat chip over Navas.
The Italian told Fox Deportes: “Maybe we can agree with Cristiano and say that some players are not Real Madrid quality”.
“It’s important to have scored ahead of the Champions League”, added Zidane referring to Real’s only realistic chance of a trophy this season after dropping well off Barcelona’s pace in La Liga.
All the current signs suggest James is on course to follow the likes of Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil by becoming the latest high-profile star to be forced out of the club, but Zidane insists he remains an important player. We know how hard it is to play well for 90 minutes.
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“I accept that, but I am convinced about what we are doing”.
