La Liga - Round-up: Ronaldo magic fires Real

Eurosport - Thu, 24 Sep 12:12:00 2009

A fine solo goal from Cristiano Ronaldo and a penalty from Kaka preserved Real Madrid's perfect start to their league campaign as they overcame Villarreal 2-0 at El Madrigal.

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (L) celebrates a goal against Villarreal with team mates Lassana Diarra (C) and Marcelo during their Spanish first division soccer match at the Madrigal Stadium in Villarreal REUTERS - 0

Ronaldo silenced the home crowd with a superb effort in just the second minute. After leaving his marker Angel Gomez for dead on the halfway line with a gorgeous turn, he tore away down the left, before cutting inside onto his right foot, skipping round another challenge, and drilling a low shot past Diego Lopez at the near post.

The visitors' star-studded midfield was proving too hot to handle for Villarreal, and Gonzalo Higuain should have doubled Real's lead on 26 minutes after he was fed by Ronaldo from the left, only to volley his effort well over the bar with only the 'keeper to beat.

Villarreal's task was made all the more difficult on 36 minutes when their captain Gonzalo Rodriguez was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Kaka.

They were fortunate not to be two goals in arrears too on the stroke of half-time as Diego Godin gave Ronaldo all the time in the world to line up a left foot volley from Esteban Granero's corner, though the Portuguese fired marginally over the bar.

Villarreal emerged the stronger side after the break, with Giuseppe Rossi drawing a fine save from Iker Casillas after cutting inside from the left flank. While not controlling the midfield with as much authority as in the first half, Real still managed to carve out another golden opportunity, with Diego Lopez throwing himself down to his right to pull off a fine save from Higuain.

The game was effectively killed off when Angel Lopez was rather harshly adjudged to have handballed Marcelo's cross inside the area, and Kaka sent the 'keeper the wrong way from the spot.

Substitute Raul had the chance to cap off a glorious one-touch move from the visitors in the dying minutes, though his first touch eluded him as he bore down on goal, allowing Lopez to smother the danger and spare his side further misery.

Real now move level on points with Barcelona, both sides having picked up four wins from their opening four league games. Villarreal slip into the relegation zone thanks to Osasuna's 2-1 win at Valladolid.

At the Calderon, Atletico Madrid conceded an equaliser in the 89th minute to draw 2-2 with Almeria, increasing the pressure on coach Abel Resino with his side on just two points from four matches.

Athletic Bilbao missed their chance to make it four wins out of four when they lost 1-0 at promoted Tenerife and Manu del Moral scored twice and Pedro Leon curled in a stunning freekick as Getafe came from a goal down to beat visiting Valencia 3-1.

Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan missed a first-half penalty for Atletico before Almeria took the lead in the 26th minute when Albert Crusat found space on the left and crossed for Pablo Piatti to finish past Roberto.

Cleber Santana equalised and a defensive error let Forlan to give Atletico the lead 10 minutes into the second half.

Piatti then grabbed his second to secure a point for Hugo Sanchez's side and Atletico's players and staff were whistled from the pitch by their disgruntled fans.

Reuters / Eurosport

Comment 25 - 44 of 44

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Ronaldo is incredibly effective, so is Messi.

    From E, on Sat 26 Sep 5:25AM

  2. robbie s want to till u something and remeber , ronaldo­ was lucky with all the goal he scored . second as soon­ as liga defenders will discover his antics he will be­ marked with only one guy that will cancel out his­ threat at all . wait and see

    From hasan a, on Fri 25 Sep 2:45PM

  3. Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo? Let the kids fight with each­ other. I prefer Ronaldinho Gaucho. ;D

    From Pedro, on Fri 25 Sep 12:04AM

  4. Well "Ronaldo" is a very fine finisher­ he's much more more stronger in the air with his­ feet as well as his head, he can do his own to score a­ goal.....while "Messi" depend too much on his­ teammates to feed him.....guyz think twice if­ "Messi" goes to the EPL he'll take a lot­ of time to settle into the English condition such is­ the difference between "La Liga" & the­ "Premier League" but "Ronaldo" does­ the same in "LaLiga" without wasting any time­ from the very begining.... so it doesn't matter­ whether u like him or not he's the footballer with­ true potential earning the Highest salary in the Soccer­ history....

    From bon_aks, on Thu 24 Sep 8:30PM

  5. i can not see a better ream madrid than the one with­­ Juande Ramos . i think real now is not the team that­­ can passby barca or even reach the CL final .believe­­ its not a matter of goals they are lucky to face week­­ teams at the begining of the campain . their first­­ competitive match will be against Sevilla .

    From hasan a, on Thu 24 Sep 1:31PM

  6. inwokokinglsey, well ronaldo is good but messi is­ greater.

    From Nwoko Kinglsey, on Thu 24 Sep 1:17PM

  7. the spanish liga now is hotter than EPL lol....all the­ best player are there...messi,ronaldo,kaka......

    From engkhenglee, on Thu 24 Sep 12:40PM

  8. Donney, as this is an english speaking Country, is­ there any chance you could join in as appart from the­ fact I can't understand a single word you say­ (which means we don't read it), it is not even­ close to being interesting or funny.
    Good luck with­ your lessons!

    From Jack, on Thu 24 Sep 12:25PM

  9. JP, Donney makes it his lifes work to come on here evey­ day and act like a juvenile, personaly i couldnt be­ arsed trying to read the load of tosh he spouts out.
    To­ make things worse he's a scottish Manure fan.

    From rbagio35, on Thu 24 Sep 12:20PM

  10. i am glad Ronaldo is coping fine in spain

    From miemie, on Thu 24 Sep 11:42AM

  11. Just found the Donney comment.... WHAT A TIT!

    From John-Paul, on Thu 24 Sep 11:35AM

  12. All the best Spanish players play for 2 times in Spain­ and the rest of the national team in i the prem. The­ Spanish league isn't what it was so don't big­ up Ronaldo banging a few goals in the average league.­ The boy is the best natural dead ball specialist and­ tricky but Kaka is the key man of that team we all know­ even Kaka knows it you wait until the toy's start­ flying

    From John-Paul, on Thu 24 Sep 11:33AM

  13. well i was one of the doubters on ronaldo in spain....­ shame on me really,should have known he will smash it­ out in sunny old spain...lol messi watch your back aint­ gonna be that easy to be king of spain anymore......

    From Donna, on Thu 24 Sep 11:29AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    who cares bout wat gay boy ronaldo does!!boring la­ liga!!

    From samuel b, on Thu 24 Sep 11:29AM

  15. Sounds like Donney is a sex pervert, or donkey­ pervert, maybe the football kicked in his arse will­ ease his balls out and not his rotten mouth

    From peterknight47, on Thu 24 Sep 11:26AM

  16. Donney.......Please go and seek medical help! Your­ probably lonely in a bedsit somewhere drinking­ Stella...Go and get a life and stop making a fool of­ yourself....ITS SAD!

    From D, on Thu 24 Sep 10:15AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ronaldo sucks

    From jide.ajayi, on Thu 24 Sep 10:07AM

  18. ronaldo even at dis form has not started,more fire on­ the way.steven nigeria

    From living4laffs, on Thu 24 Sep 9:45AM

  19. Ronaldo is on fire and I am very, very, happy for him­ and that is me being a Manchester United supporter. He­ is starting to get in form and he has not even started­ yet all he needs to do is become more humble and I Hope­ Kaka is having that good influence on him. But when­ it's against Manchester United I hope it is not a­ good game.

    From jaytayo, on Thu 24 Sep 9:29AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    they still buying their matches starting with Espaniol­ , how come these donkeys win their away and home­ matches with the bunch of idiots, too easy, money or­ refree, anything except football

    From ziads, on Thu 24 Sep 9:15AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account