Hat-trick for Ronaldo as Real Madrid beat Alaves

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick and missed a penalty as Real Madrid assured they will remain leaders of the Spanish Primera Liga with a 4-1 win away to Deportivo Alaves on Saturday.

The home side took the lead in the seventh minute when Deyverson scored from close range following a flying run down the left by wing-back Theo Hernandez.

Theo, who is on loan from Atletico Madrid, was giving Real all sort of problems with his pace and Edgar flicked wide from another of his crosses.

Deyverson went from hero to villain in the 16th minute when he was penalized for handball, allowing Ronaldo to equalize from the penalty spot, although TV replays showed Deyverson had been unlucky to be penalized as the ball had in fact hit his head.

Madrid then lost Pepe to a muscle injury as he looked to chase Theo and he was replaced by Nacho Fernandez, before Ronaldo had a stroke of luck to put his side ahead when his 25-yard shot took just enough of deflection to take it out of Daniel Pacheco's reach in the Alaves goal and make the score 2-1.

Alaves had two early chances at the start of the second half and Victor Camarasa should have equalized when clean trough on goal, but allowed Navas to block his shot, before the Madrid keeper then made a comfortable stop to deny Devyerson.

It became scrappy and it was not until the 72nd minute that Real Madrid won their first corner of the game as things remained disjointed in midfield.

Ronaldo missed the chance to claim a hat-trick in the 79th minute when his second spot kick of the game was well-saved by Pacheco. It didn't matter much, however as Alvaro Morata scored Madrid's third with a neat chip following a Marcelo pass.

Marcelo then set up Ronaldo to score Madrid's fourth of the game and give the score a final sheen their play maybe didn't deserve. Endit