Ronaldo off injured as Real hammer Almeria

Liga - Ronaldo off injured as Real hammer Almeria

 

Real Madrid recorded an emphatic 5-0 win over Almeria to boost their title challenge, but the result was marred by an injury to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo was withdrawn in the second half having suffered a hamstring injury, but early indications are that the Portuguese star was substituted as a precautionary measure.

 Goals from Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Isco and Alvaro Morata sealed the comfortable win for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, although Almeria provided stubborn opponents for much of the game.
 Almeria came into the game on the back of three successive league wins but found themselves behind after just two minutes, when Ronaldo provided a deft touch on Isco’s well-judged cross into the box.
 The Portuguese forward could have added a second just moments later but his shot from distance was saved by Esteban in the Almeria goal, also stopping Karim Benzema’s effort on the rebound.
 Ronaldo came close to scoring a goal of the season contender as the first half wound down, but after beating four players with a display of tricky dribbling he skewed his shot into the arms of the keeper, when he had time to pick his spot.
 Almeria grew in confidence and stature around half time, with Rodri and Aleix Vidal causing problems, but following the withdrawal of Ronaldo Benzema ended any hopes of a comeback with a brilliant turn and finish into the bottom corner from 20 yards after 61 minutes.
 Isco was starting to dictate the tempo and pace of the game in his role just behind the front three and almost added his name to the score sheet, fizzing a low drive past the post.
 However, Bale did make it 3-0 with less than 20 minutes remaining, anticipating an error by Sebastian Dubarbier, who was trying to clear a through ball played by Isco, to finish into the gaping net.
 And Isco made it 4-0 just minutes later, nonchalantly placing a shot from the edge of the box through the legs of the opposition defender and beyond Esteban in the Almeria goal.
 Morata completed the scoring in a resounding win for Real Madrid, breaking the offside to chip audaciously over the advancing keeper.
 Ancelotti opted to play a young, new-look front three for the final 10 minutes of the game, and Casemiro rattled an effort off the inside of the post with just a few minutes left on the clock. However, luck was on Almeria’s side on this occasion, and the ball bounced clear to keep the final score at 5-0.