The Phenomenon hits 300-mark

The Phenomenon hits 300-mark

FPJ BureauUpdated: Saturday, June 01, 2019, 02:40 AM IST
article-image
Cristiano Ronaldo vies for the ball (L) during Real Madrid’s Spanish League match against Rayo Vallecano. |

Ronaldo scores in Real win; Barca continue to lead the pack 

Madrid : Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 300th Real Madrid goal as the European champions remained four points adrift of La Liga leaders Barcelona with a 2-0 win at Rayo Vallecano.

Earlier, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were on target as Barca eased past Almeria 4-0 on Wednesday.

Barca took over half an hour to make the breakthrough, but Messi did so in style as he curled home his 44th goal of the season into the far corner.

Suarez made the game safe when he fired into the top corner 10 minutes after the break and bagged his second of the evening in stoppage time after Marc Bartra headed home the third from Xavi’s corner.

“It is the stage of the season where we have a lot to play for,” said Suarez. “We ought to show our personality because we are Barcelona. In the league we depend on ourselves and we need to continue in this vein.”

Madrid suffered a much more uncomfortable evening in a capital derby at Rayo before Ronaldo and James Rodriguez struck midway through the second-half.

Rayo dominated the first period in terms of possession, but it was still Madrid who had the better chances as Rodriguez shot straight at Diego Cobeno when unmarked inside the area before Ronaldo headed over from the Colombian’s free-kick.

At the other end, Iker Casillas made a fine save to keep the visitors level at the break as he parried Roberto Trashorras’s back post header to safety.

Madrid started much stronger after the break and were inches away from an opener when Gareth Bale’s header from Rodriguez’s cross looped just wide.

There was then a huge moment of controversy when Ronaldo was booked despite appearing to be clearly brought down by Antonio Amaya inside the area meaning he will miss Saturday’s visit of Eibar to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Six minutes later it was 2-0 as Ronaldo turned provider this time for Rodriguez to curl home his first goal in two months.

Messi opened the scoring in brilliant fashion when he found space on the edge of the area and curled into the far corner with pinpoint accuracy. Suarez made sure of Barca’s 20th win in their last 21 games in all competitions with a little help from Cuesta the keeper got a hand to the Uruguayan’s powerful effort but couldn’t keep it out.

Fifteen minutes from time when Bartra rose highest to power home Xavi’s in-swinging delivery. And Suarez was gifted his second.

At the other end of the table Deportivo la Coruna sacked manager Victor Fernandez after Cordoba ended a 10-game losing streak with a 1-1 draw against the Galicians at La Riazor. —AFP

RECENT STORIES

'Irony Of Life': Unmukt Chand's Dig At USA Selectors After His Omission From T20 Series For Canada

'Irony Of Life': Unmukt Chand's Dig At USA Selectors After His Omission From T20 Series For Canada

IPL 2024: KKR Takes Subtle Dig At Virat Kohli With Pics Of Gautam Gambhir Ahead Of Blockbuster Clash...

IPL 2024: KKR Takes Subtle Dig At Virat Kohli With Pics Of Gautam Gambhir Ahead Of Blockbuster Clash...

Miami Open: Rohan Bopanna And Matthew Ebden Progress To Men's Doubles Final

Miami Open: Rohan Bopanna And Matthew Ebden Progress To Men's Doubles Final

Ex-New Zealand Cricketer Corey Anderson Added To USA Squad For T20I Series Against Canada; Unmukt...

Ex-New Zealand Cricketer Corey Anderson Added To USA Squad For T20I Series Against Canada; Unmukt...

VIDEO: Ex-CSK Skipper MS Dhoni's Hilarious 'New Captain' Response To Anchor's Question During...

VIDEO: Ex-CSK Skipper MS Dhoni's Hilarious 'New Captain' Response To Anchor's Question During...