Madrid : Striker Cristiano Ronaldo scored the fastest hat-trick of his professional career and five goals in total as Real Madrid cruised to an incredible 9-1 win at home to a helpless Granada in a La Liga match on Sunday.
The Portuguese striker scored his 32nd, 33rd and 34th league goals of the campaign in an eight-minute period as his side ran rampant over a rival who did little to prevent his side’s continued attacks with some weak defending and a series of goalkeeping errors.
Ronaldo then rounded off a memorable afternoon with two further goals in the second half as Madrid enjoyed what was a virtual walk in the sunshine against a rival who failed to put up even a token resistance and as a result suffered the heaviest defeat in their history.
Real Madrid were able to welcome James Rodriguez back into their side, while Isco and Pepe were both suspended.
Interestingly in a week in which the club signed Brazilian defender, Danilo, for next season, current right back Dani Carvajal was rested.
Granada kept the score at 0-0 until the 25th minute when winger Gareth Bale was stronger in the challenge than defender Diego Mainz and was able to round Granada keeper Oier before scoring.
Five minutes later Ronaldo opened his account after an interchange of passes with James, who was totally unmarked. And he netted his second from close range after keeper Oier dropped a cross at his feet.
With Granada all over the place his third goal of the game came in the 38th minute when he advanced to the edge of box unchallenged before hitting a powerful shot.
Things got no better after the break for Granada as Madrid walked through a static defence. Benzema scored the fifth after he was allowed to control a corner kick and Ronaldo netted his fourth after being set up by Bale.
Benzema then made it 7-1 when his close range shot deflected past Oier and Diego Mainz put into his own net to make it eight.
Finally Ronaldo scored his fifth of the game with a free header following a last-minute free kick.
Scottish midfielder Charlie Adam’s wonder 65-yard goal from his own half in Stoke City’s 2-1 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge left football fans around the world and his stunning strike even left him stunned as he claimed that it’s a goal he will always remember.
Adam collected the ball in his own half before unleashing a shot from around 65 yards which flew over Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was caught off his line, and into the net and his powerful strike is likely to be remembered longer than the result of the game itself.
Adam’s strike prompted a tirade of reactions from the football community around the globe, with comparisons being drawn with other memorable goals scored by players from inside their own half, the BBC reported.
Adam said that he never knew that he had that much power to beat a quality goalkeeper, adding that it would be a goal that he would always remember. He said that it was one of them that sat up nicely and he saw the goalie off his line.
The Scot claimed that he was lucky enough that it went in, adding that once in a lifetime this can happen to a footballer, insisting that it’s great on an individual level and a great way to get his 50th goal in English football.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said that it was a fantastic goal, every player in the world would like to score a goal like that, from Argentine legend Diego Maradona to Lionel Messi to all these brilliant players as not all of them did score that goal in their careers.
Meanwhile, Stoke manager Mark Hughes said that it was an outstanding goal from Adam, adding that his midfielder has got that ability and has obviously shown it to everyone with the goal.
He insisted that the Scot is always attempting those of kinds of things because he has confidence in his ability.
