Played
August 28, 2011 2:00 PM EDT
Estadio de la Romareda — Zaragoza
Referee: César Muñiz
Attendance: 30000
August 28, 2011 2:00 PM EDT
Estadio de la Romareda — Zaragoza
Referee: César Muñiz
Attendance: 30000
Top of the Match
Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Flop of the Match
Fernando Meira
Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Fernando Meira
Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Zaragoza 0-6 Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo fires hat-trick as Jose Mourinho's side records thumping win
Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a hat-trick as Real Madrid recorded a thumping 6-0 victory in its opening La Liga game of the season.
By Luke Matthews
Getty
Real Madrid kicked off the new La Liga campaign with a bang with an impressive 6-0 win against Zaragoza at La Romareda.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 24th minute before Marcelo doubled the lead five minutes later. Xabi Alonso made in three, and Ronaldo added his second before substitute Kaka made it five in the 83rd minute. Ronaldo completed his hat-trick three minutes from time to send Madrid to top of the day on matchday one.
Madrid started brightly and created the first real chance of the game in the 10th minute with Mesut Ozil coming close. Ricardo Carvalho made a galloping run through the center of the pitch before sliding a well-weighted through ball to the German playmaker, who saw his low effort from just inside the box comfortably saved by Roberto.
The visitors threatened to break the deadlock again on 15 minutes but Karim Benzema was unable to get the better of Roberto, who enjoyed a decent start to his second spell at the Aragonese club. Benzema controlled Ozil's pass well, yet his powerful drive from 12 yards out was tipped around the post.
Jose Mourinho's men did not have to wait long to score their first goal of the 2011-12 Liga campaign when Cristiano Ronaldo struck on 24 minutes. The Madrid star controlled an effortless through ball from the impressive Ozil before lashing into the net from 12 yards out, past the helpless keeper.
Madrid doubled the lead five minutes later when the unmarked Marcelo struck. Sergio Ramos did well to maraud down the right wing before chipping an inviting cross into the box, which Marcelo duly met before dispatching past Roberto to give the 2011 Copa del Rey winner a 2-0 lead at halftime.
The away team started the second half in similar fashion to how it ended the first - in cruise control. In the 53rd minute Ronaldo's fizzing 25 yard effort was fumbled by Roberto into the path of Angel di Maria who somehow managed to miss the empty net from six yards out.
Mourinho's side continued to keep Zaragoza under pressure and the result was put beyond doubt on 64 minutes when Xabi Alonso struck. Di Maria's shot deflected off Fernando Meira and into the path of the Spanish international who made no mistake in drilling the ball into the bottom right corner from 25 yards out.
The night went from bad to worse for Javier Aguirre's team when Ronaldo grabbed his second of the night to make it 4-0. Marcelo started the attack with an excellent challenge on Angel Lafita before storming up field and laying the ball to Benzema. The French striker then played in Di Maria who saw Ronaldo direct his low cross into the net from close range.
Zaragoza continued to crumble and on 82 minutes substitute Kaka netted. Some clever link-up play from Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao led to the left back playing the ball into the Brazilian, who made his way into the box before unleashing an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net.
Ronaldo grabbed his hat-trick five and 14th goal in his last five league appearances minutes later to complete Zaragoza's humiliation. Kaka's angled shot was bundled into the path of Ronaldo who had the easy task of tapping the ball into an empty goal from two yards to round off Madrid's impressive performanc, in what was a marker laid down by Jose Mourinho's side for the season ahead.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 24th minute before Marcelo doubled the lead five minutes later. Xabi Alonso made in three, and Ronaldo added his second before substitute Kaka made it five in the 83rd minute. Ronaldo completed his hat-trick three minutes from time to send Madrid to top of the day on matchday one.
Madrid started brightly and created the first real chance of the game in the 10th minute with Mesut Ozil coming close. Ricardo Carvalho made a galloping run through the center of the pitch before sliding a well-weighted through ball to the German playmaker, who saw his low effort from just inside the box comfortably saved by Roberto.
The visitors threatened to break the deadlock again on 15 minutes but Karim Benzema was unable to get the better of Roberto, who enjoyed a decent start to his second spell at the Aragonese club. Benzema controlled Ozil's pass well, yet his powerful drive from 12 yards out was tipped around the post.
Jose Mourinho's men did not have to wait long to score their first goal of the 2011-12 Liga campaign when Cristiano Ronaldo struck on 24 minutes. The Madrid star controlled an effortless through ball from the impressive Ozil before lashing into the net from 12 yards out, past the helpless keeper.
Madrid doubled the lead five minutes later when the unmarked Marcelo struck. Sergio Ramos did well to maraud down the right wing before chipping an inviting cross into the box, which Marcelo duly met before dispatching past Roberto to give the 2011 Copa del Rey winner a 2-0 lead at halftime.
The away team started the second half in similar fashion to how it ended the first - in cruise control. In the 53rd minute Ronaldo's fizzing 25 yard effort was fumbled by Roberto into the path of Angel di Maria who somehow managed to miss the empty net from six yards out.
Mourinho's side continued to keep Zaragoza under pressure and the result was put beyond doubt on 64 minutes when Xabi Alonso struck. Di Maria's shot deflected off Fernando Meira and into the path of the Spanish international who made no mistake in drilling the ball into the bottom right corner from 25 yards out.
The night went from bad to worse for Javier Aguirre's team when Ronaldo grabbed his second of the night to make it 4-0. Marcelo started the attack with an excellent challenge on Angel Lafita before storming up field and laying the ball to Benzema. The French striker then played in Di Maria who saw Ronaldo direct his low cross into the net from close range.
Zaragoza continued to crumble and on 82 minutes substitute Kaka netted. Some clever link-up play from Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao led to the left back playing the ball into the Brazilian, who made his way into the box before unleashing an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net.
Ronaldo grabbed his hat-trick five and 14th goal in his last five league appearances minutes later to complete Zaragoza's humiliation. Kaka's angled shot was bundled into the path of Ronaldo who had the easy task of tapping the ball into an empty goal from two yards to round off Madrid's impressive performanc, in what was a marker laid down by Jose Mourinho's side for the season ahead.
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
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Final
scheduled
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Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lionel Messi Striker Barcelona |
46 | 4 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Real Madrid |
34 | 6 |
|
Radamel Falcao Striker Atlético de Madrid |
28 | 8 |
|
Roberto Soldado Striker Valencia |
21 | 5 |
|
Negredo Striker Sevilla |
20 | 3 |
