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| Goals galore and a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick |
This was Real Madrid’s first midday kick-off this season. The Whites, unbeaten for more than a year at the Santiago Bernabeu, sought their fourth consecutive victory at home this year. All clashes they had played in front of their home support in 2013 had ended in victory. The match against Getafe could not be an exception to this rule. In fact, the team started the game eager to demonstrate the union it has with its fans and the first chance of the match arrived in the tenth minute when a free kick from Ronaldo forced Moya to make a save. Di María could also have put the team ahead three minutes later, but his shot from the penalty arc deflected off the visiting side’s defence, surprising the Getafe goalkeeper and flashing centimetres past the post.
Real Madrid were in complete control of the ball and continued to create chances. The next chance arrived in the twenty-second minute. Beautiful play between Özil and Ronaldo, who drove into the area, losing his marker with spectacular cutback and shooting. The attempt was cleared by Moya, saving his team once again. Getafe also had a chance, but the header by Diego Castro was saved by a reliable Adan in the twenty-sixth minute. Real Madrid were not concerned, and four minutes later surprised their opponent on the counter. Özil began the move with an enormous run, during which he was caught by Gavilán. The German passed down the touchline, were Ronaldo awaited, who then passed to Higuaín. Özil was unable to make the most of the Argentine’s cutback, the German arriving at the penalty spot exhausted alter the sprint that had started the move. This, however, was not the last chance of the half, which came in the forty-third minute. A long pass by Di María to Coentrao up the wing, who crossed the ball on the volley. Modric controlled the cross with his chest but his shot from the penalty arc went over.
Mourinho brought Khedira on for Albiol after the break. The Whites’ winning intentions were clear and they scored from the second chance after the break. The first chance in the fifty-third minute, a shot by Khedira from the penalty arc, was stopped by Moya at full-stretch. He once again showed his reflexes by stopping a point-blank shot by Coentrao. This save went out from a corner, which was taken by Özil and Ramos put his team ahead.
Real Madrid needed only twelve more minutes to settle the clash and the thrashing. The second goal came from a quick counter-attack started by Carvalho with a cross-field pass to Özil, who waited for the perfect moment to set up Ronaldo. The Portuguese’s shot in the sixty-second minute was unstoppable. The Whites had been left off their leashes and three minutes later scored the third goal. A pinpoint cross by Di Maria and a spectacular header by Ronaldo. 3-0 and the team kept looking forward.
The ambitious Real Madrid players were hungry for more. Ramos cleared a volley by Colunga off the line with his head in the sixty-seventh minute. It was the visiting side’s last dangerous chance, conceding the fourth goal in the seventy-second minute. A foul by Lopo on Modric was awarded a penalty and Ronaldo converted it magnificently. The Portuguese, who scored a perfect hat-trick after scoring with his left and right feet and with a header, became the currently active player to have scored the most hat-tricks in La Liga, with 16 in total. Fourth consecutive victory at home and their third home and away in the league. Against Barcelona this Wednesday, the fans will want to play a decisive role in the outcome once again.
Summary
Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 71,108
Goals: 1-0, min. 8: Sergio Ramos. 2-0, min. 58: Cristiano. 3-0, min. 65: Cristiano. 4-0, min. 71: Cristiano (pen.)
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