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Wednesday 15 February 2012

Real Madrid 4-2 Levante



Ronaldo hat-trick and Benzema strike give Whites 10-point cushion in La Liga

Fernando Porrero / Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell


Cristiano Ronaldo used all his weaponry tonight against Levante, tallying a hat-trick that, with another Benzema strike, gave Real Madrid a victory that keeps them ten points ahead from Barcelona on the league table.
Granero and Higuain made the starting lineup, but the Whites conceded a Cabral header following a free-kick by Farinos on the 4-minute mark. Mourinho's men had to try to turn the score around and Higuain ended up hitting a post just a few minutes later (11'). Munua was forced to make a solid save by a spectacular Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick and Real Madrid continued having many opportunities to score. Levante's goalkeeper kept them at bay, making impressive saves again in the 25th and 37th minutes.

An aerial play that initially seemed inconsequential became decisive when Iborra concentrated more on pushing Higuain than on clearing the ball and ended up hitting it with his hands in the box. The penalty was taken and converted by Ronaldo just before half-time.

Real looked to finish things off quickly in the second half and Ronaldo scored again by heading in a great Higuain assist. The Portuguese striker wanted more and ended up tallying another with an amazing 23 metre shot, one of his best since he arrived in Spain. This spectacular goal made the crowd go wild and sing his name, while the player went straight to the coaching area to hug Mourinho and celebrate it with the rest of the bench.

Levante never gave up and, despite being down to ten men, tallied a second strike through a Kone header. Benzema pulled rank and enlarged the cushion with an impressive crossed shot from inside the box.

Callejon, Khedira and Kaka came on for Higuain, Granero and Ozil, and Real continued looking for more goals: Ozil hit the post in the 69th minute and Ronaldo came close to netting a free-kick in the final minutes.
► PLAYER MOVEMENTS

Real Madrid

  • 1I. CasillasGoalkeeper
  • 17Á. ArbeloaYellow Card
  • 3PepeYellow Card
  • 4S. RamosYellow Card
  • 15Fábio Coentrão
  • 11E. GraneroSubstitution Off
  • 14X. Alonso
  • 10M. ÖzilSubstitution Off
  • 9K. BenzemaGoal
  • 7C. RonaldoGoal (P)GoalGoal
  • 20G. HiguaínSubstitution Off

Substitutes

  • 13A. Adán
  • 8KakáSubstitution On
  • 5N. Sahin
  • 2R. Carvalho
  • 6S. KhediraSubstitution On
  • 21J. CallejónSubstitution On
  • 18R. Albiol

Coach
 
José Mourinho

Levante

  • 1G. MunúaGoalkeeper
  • 17Javi Venta
  • 18S. Ballesteros
  • 22G. CabralGoalYellow Card
  • 15A. Del HornoSubstitution Off
  • 25N. El ZharSubstitution Off
  • 4Farinós
  • 10V. IborraYellow CardSecond Yellow Card
  • 8Ó. SerranoYellow Card
  • 23ValdoSubstitution Off
  • 2A. KonéGoal

Substitutes

  • 19Pedro LópezSubstitution On
  • 6M. PallardóSubstitution On
  • 12Juanfran
  • 13K. Navas
  • 21Rubén Suárez
  • 24A. Ghezzal
  • 11BotelhoSubstitution On

Coach
 
Juan Ignacio Martínez

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