Easy win for Real Madrid over Eibar to prepare for key European match
Xinhua, April 9, 2016 Adjust font size:
Real Madrid prepared for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final at home to Wolfsburg with a comfortable 4-0 home win against Eibar.
The game was over as a contest as soon as the 20th minute when Cristiano Ronaldo scored from close range to make it 3-0 and add to earlier goals from James Rodriguez and Lucas Vazquez to leave the visitors with an uphill task.
With his side needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit in the Champions League on Tuesday night, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane named a side filled with fringe players and opted to rest regulars such as Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Tony Kroos and Sergio Ramos.
James opened the score as soon as the third minute from a free kick after Jese Rodriguez had been brought down on the edge of the Eibar penalty area as he exploited space behind an advanced visiting defense.
The second goal came after 18 minutes when Lucas Vazquez was given a simple finish as Ronaldo broke through the middle to allow him to score with a left foot shot and the third was scored by Ronaldo in similar fashion after Jese's pace had seen him break through.
Ronaldo returned the favor after 38 minutes as he again exploited the space behind the Eibar defense to slip the ball through for Jese to tap into an empty net.
Eibar made two changes at the break with Borja Baston and Junca getting into the action, but the second half with Real Madrid again on the attack and Asier Riesgo produced a good save to deny Ronaldo, although the fact is that Madrid went into cruise control after the break and with the crowd showing signs of restlessness, Baston was unlucky to see his header bounce off the bar.
The crowd may not have been totally convinced but nobody should be fooled, the big game in Madrid comes on Tuesday night. Endi