Ronaldo and Bale on target as Madrid draw level at the top

AFP/Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo continued his fantastic week after lifting the Ballon d’Or on Monday with a thumping long-range drive to open the scoring before Gareth Bale silenced his recent critics with a trademark free-kick to make it 2-0. Karim Benzema then notched his 100th goal for Madrid in first-half stoppage time as he blasted home after classy play from Luka Modric.

Angel di Maria made it four just after the hour mark with another stunning effort from distance and Alvaro Morata rounded off the scoring in stoppage time. All three leading clubs are now tied on 50 points, but Barca and Atletico can move back in front when then face Levante and Sevilla respectively today. Bale had struggled since his return from a calf injury at the beginning of the year with coach Carlo Ancelotti even admitting on Friday that the Welshman could do better.

But the Italian praised the former Spurs man’s display as his side produced their best display of the year to date.

“Bale played well, as did the whole team. We played with great quality and concentration throughout the game,” he said.

“Everything went well and therefore we have to be happy.

“It was an important opportunity for us to go to the top of the table and we can sleep well tonight.” It was once again Ronaldo who stole the show early on as he opened the scoring 10 minutes in with a thunderous drive from 25 yards out that flew into the top left-hand corner of Stephan Andersen’s net.

Ronaldo nearly had another memorable goal to add to his collection 10 minutes later as he skipped past two Betis defenders before firing across the face of the goal. The visitors didn’t have to wait long to double their advantage, though, as Bale did make his mark with a dipping free-kick on 25 minutes that beat the stationary Andersen, although the Danish keeper should have done better.

Ruben Castro missed a wonderful opportunity to pull a goal back for the hosts when he failed to connect with Leo Baptistao’s fine low cross six minutes before half-time. Instead, it was Madrid who struck again before the break as Modric continued his fantastic form of late with a wonderful piece of composed play inside the box to tee up Benzema to fire home at the near post.

Andersen redeemed himself somewhat at the start of the second period as he made a fine low save to his right to prevent Ronaldo doubling his tally and also turned away a fiercely struck effort from Benzema.

However, there was nothing the Betis keeper could do to prevent Di Maria making it four as he arrowed a low left-footed drive from 30 yards into the bottom corner. And Betis’s afternoon was summed up in stoppage time when Morata nipped in to prod past Andersen as the home defence appealed in vain for offside.

Meanwhile Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino believes Lionel Messi has fully recovered from a hamstring injury that kept him out for two months and will soon be back to his best. Messi is expected to start as Barca travel to Levante in La Liga on Sunday after scoring twice in his first start of 2014 as Barca sealed their place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals with a 2-0 win away to Getafe in midweek.

The four-time World Player of the Year’s second goal in particular was spectacular as he dashed past three Getafe defenders before rounding the goalkeeper and finishing from a narrow angle. Martino had been cautious not to rush his compatriot’s return and he even left him on the bench for last weekend’s top of the table clash away to Atletico Madrid.

However, he believes the mini pre-season Messi did while he was out injured should prepare him well for the second half of the season. “From the point of his unfortunate injury, he has done different work from the rest of the squad. What the rest were doing in July and August, he is doing now,” he said.

“A footballer like him, with such talent and who is mentally strong, is ready to show us his best form.” A draw against Atletico in Barca’s last league outing left them still tied with Diego Simeone’s men on 50 points at exactly the midway point in the season. And with Real Madrid just three points behind in third place, Martino echoed Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti’s comments that the eventual champions may have to surpass a league record total of 100 points to win the title.

“The situation is going to be close and if all three teams maintain their consistency, it will take more than 100 points to win the championship.” Brazilian forward Neymar misses the trip to Levante as he has been ruled out for up to four weeks after he sprained his right ankle against Getafe on Thursday. Andres Iniesta is also left out of the squad as he continues to recover from a knee knock and Dani Alves is suspended so Martin Montoya is expected to start at right-back.