Off the wire
• U.S. stocks fluctuate narrowly amid oil decline  • Shanghai bans drug-using actors, drivers  • Fast food chain supplier stands trial over meat scandal  • Interview: Cypriot port run by COSCO would help promote Belt and Road Initiative: Cypriot professor  • Foreign exchange rate of Euro to other currencies  • Ukraine seeks continuation of debt-restructuring talks with Russia: minister  • Israeli Embassy apologizes for misuse of Singapore flag  • Couple sentenced to imprisonment for plotting attacks in London  • Chinese leaders watch traditional opera gala for new year  • U.S. comedian Bill Cosby charged with sexually assaulting woman in 2004  
You are here: 　 Home

Ronaldo's double helps Real Madrid to important win

Xinhua, December 31, 2015 Adjust font size:

Two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and a late strike from Lucas Vazquez saw Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 3-1 in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday in what had been described as a must-win game.

With the press speculating over a possible return for Jose Mourinho to the Bernabeu, Wednesday's game was seen as a plebiscite for Benitez, although the fact it kicked off at 4pm local time on a working day ensured there was no full house in Real Madrid's home ground.

That didn't stop Benitez being booed when his name was read over the public address system and also Ronaldo being booed after missing a first-half penalty given for an apparent push on Karim Benzema.

Real Sociedad looked to control the ball, but had to thank goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli for three fine saves in the first 15 minutes to deny Ronaldo, Benzema, who was Madrid's best player, and Pepe.

The visitors lost striker Imanol Agirretxe through injury after Keylor Navas saved his first half effort and would also lose Sergio Canales at the same time Madrid were given a second generous penalty after the ball bounced off Yuri's leg and onto his arm.

This time Ronaldo kept calm and slotted the ball into the corner to give his side the lead, although that didn't stop them from being booed off at the break.

The boos got considerably worse when Bruma equalized three minutes into the second half with a wonderful curling shot. He should have put the visitors ahead five minutes later when he was slipped through by Jonathas' header only for his poor control to allow Navas to smother the ball.

Gareth Bale saw a shot well saved by Rulli, but Madrid were looking sluggish and the boos got louder and louder in the Bernabeu.

But just as Real Sociedad must have been thinking the game was theirs to take, Ronaldo produced a moment of magic to score a left foot volley direct from a corner kick.

Lucas Vazquez added a third from a Bale pass with three minutes remaining to give the score a more convincing sheen, but the performance if not the result means the jury is still out on the Real Madrid boss. Endit