Ronaldo's 2 goals helps Madrid beat Xerez 3-0

Ronaldo's 2 goals helps Madrid beat Xerez 3-0
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid beat Xerez 3-0 in the Spanish league on Saturday.

Ronaldo, returning from a two-game suspension, headed in Kaka's carefully placed cross from the right in the 71st. The two combined again in the 72nd, with the Brazil playmaker passing for Ronaldo to volley home.

Defender Alvaro Arbeloa scored his first league goal for Madrid in the 65th minute, running in from the right wing on to a long pass to shoot past goalkeeper Renan Brito.

The result means Madrid is on 53 points, two behind leader Barcelona, which visits Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

"We never stopped needing Cristiano, although we won our games without him," Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini said. "Today, he was back. He scored two goals, created a lot of space and gave a lot to the team."

Valencia, third on 43 points, was held to a 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon. Villarreal beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1.

At Xerez's Chapin Stadium, a minute's silence was observed before kickoff and the visitors wore armbands in tribute to former Real Madrid player and coach Luis Molowny, who died on Friday.

Xerez, which is rooted to the bottom of the league standings, looked desperate for its third win of the season and showed some of its best form of the season early in the game.

In the 12th, Jeronimo "Momo" Figueroa controlled a long pass from Carlos Calvo and blasted a left-footed shot just over. Figueroa sent a similar chance over the bar in the 26th.

Madrid responded with a move that led to Ronaldo heading Arbeloa's cross at Brito.

The field was in a poor state and Ronaldo appeared to blame a bad bounce when he shot wide in the 20th. The Portugal striker came close again when he headed against the post just before halftime.

Esteban Granero appealed for a penalty after falling in the area, although referee Turienzo Alvarez waved play on.

The lively Ronaldo had another chance with a shot from the edge of the area that Brito just managed to control.

As Xerez tired Madrid started to dominate with the scoreline reflecting its superiority.

"In the first half they were stronger than in the second, but after the first goal everything was easier for us," Arbeloa said.

At the Molinon Stadium, Gijon went ahead in the fifth minute when Diego Castro curled a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez.

In the 77th, Juan Manuel Mata scored his sixth of the season, running on to Ever Banega's through pass and equalizing.

Sporting was the better side in the opening minutes, creating several chances. Miguel Angel de las Cuevas dribbled past David Albelda in the 17th and Sanchez had to dive to stop his low shot.

Valencia looked dangerous on the break, however, with David Villa and then Juan Manuel Mata testing goalkeeper Juan Pablo Colinas early on.

The visitors soon started to control midfield and Carlos Marchena struck the post with a powerful header in the 30th. Colinas did well in the 40th to rush out and steal the ball from the advancing Mata.

Castro could have put the hosts two goals up early in the second half when he found some space in the area, yet he hesitated long enough to allow Jeremy Mathieu to close him down.

In injury time, Santander's Mate Bilic was through with only Sanchez to beat, although the goalkeeper timed his run well to win the ball and avoid defeat.

In a free-flowing encounter at the Madrigal Stadium, in Juan Carlos Garrido's first home game in charge of Villarreal, Joan Capdevila put the hosts ahead in the fifth minute.

Igor Gabilondo equalized in the 24th with a long-range shot before Nilmar scored the winner in the 45th after receiving a pass from Ruben "Cani" Garcia.

In the 70th, Iker Muniain replaced Gabilondo. The 17-year-old striker earned a penalty in the 89th, although Diego Lopez saved Andoni Iraola's strike.

Tempers flared toward the end of the game with Bilbao's Javier Martinez and Villarreal's Diego Godin sent off in injury time after clashing. Bilbao coach Joaquin Caparros was also dismissed in an ensuing altercation with Pablo Orbaiz, who was also sent off for elbowing Marco Ruben.

The result leaves Bilbao seventh on 33 points and Villarreal ninth on 29 points.

Cristiano Ronaldo 2009/10 Current Goal Statistics: Impressive!

Cristiano Ronaldo 2009/10 Current Goal Statistics: Impressive!

The public has been talking about Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney’s performances for their respective team as fabulous, but football star Cristiano Ronaldo is one player that the public might wrongly look upon with less admiration.

Ronaldo missed up to two month of action for Real Madrid in the early stages of the 2009/2010 season through injury. He also had to seat out a few number of games through suspension.

Still, Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal statistics for the Spanish giants is nothing but impressive.

Since match-day 1 in La Liga, CR9 has featured 13 times for Real Madrid and last Saturday, he scored his 10th and 11th goal for Los Blancos in the league.

In the Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo played 4 games out of the 6 in the group stages but he already tops the goal scoring charts with 6 goals.

Calculating quickly, the world’s most expensive football star has scored 17 goals so far in 17 appearances. This makes an average of one goal per match.

Who knows if Cristiano Ronaldo will not pip out La Liga’s current top scorer Lionel Messi for the Pichichi honor?

Should he maintain this record and should Real Madrid go far in the UEFA Champions League, then Cristiano Ronaldo will surely scoop Europe’s Golden Boot just like he did two seasons ago after scoring 42 goals for Manchester United.

Angela Asante, Footballfantalk.com

Real Madrid Player Cristiano Ronaldo: I miss Manchester United

Real Madrid Player Cristiano Ronaldo: I miss Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo may be a happy player and a happy man at Real Madrid but in an exclusive interview with the News of the World, the 25-year-old revealed an important statement.

The Portuguese football star, who spent six years at Manchester United before switching to Real Madrid in Spain declared that a return to Old Trafford was not an impossible option.

Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly used to moan about Manchester’s rainy weather and dream about Madrid’s sun and beach during his time in England.

The football superstar might have been relieved when leaving the Red Devils for that purpose.

However, this doesn’t mean that Manchester United is a forgotten place in his heart.

“Of course, I miss playing for Manchester United,” Cristiano Ronaldo avowed.

“Not just the club, but my friends are still there too. I played for six years; and that’s a long time. Whenever I have the opportunity, I watch them play.”

Cristiano Ronaldo pursued:

“I’m still interested in watching Manchester United… and you never know, maybe in the future, I could return to play there. It’s always possible.”

Real Madrid’s football club and fans may not be that happy to hear these statements from Cristiano Ronaldo. But the Portugal captain immediately ruled out any prospective doubts over his devotion for the Spanish giants. He stated:

“I won’t say I’m not happy here, at Real Madrid. I’m really happy and everyone knows this is my club. But of course, I miss Manchester United, the boss, the players, because I left family there.

“I want to fulfill my contract here. But in the future, only God knows.”

Can you see Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid and going back to Manchester United in the near future?

Angela Asante, Footballfantalk.com

Cristiano Ronaldo Cristmas

Cristiano Ronaldo Cristmas

Ronaldo completes ban

Ronaldo completed his ban, watching his second match from the sidelines, and freeing himself up for the games next weekend. He will have been in a good mood after the game, with Real prevailing easily against Espanyol.

Four minutes into the game, Granero took a free-kick from one of the sides and Ramos notched in a header.

Espanyol were well positioned and tried to fight back by keeping possession, but Real Madrid soon took over. Raul had a header on the goal-line and Kameni managed to miraculously clear it, but the ball landed at Kaka's feet and the Brazilian netted the second goal for the Whites in a near-acrobatic way.

Benzema was replaced by Higuain, who netted the third strike following a magnificent control of a long pass and dribbling past Kameni's right and then turning left before flicking the ball into the back of the net.

Cristiano Ronaldo model for Giorgio Armani

Cristiano Ronaldo has taken over from David Beckham. First it was his number 7 shirt, then it was the right-sided midfielder spot at Real Madrid, and now its his pants!

In the latest photoshoot out Portuguese hero has taken part in, Ronaldo proved he's more than a match for 'Goldenballs'.

Having become the latest in a line of famous people to model for Giorgio Armani, Ronaldo was pictured in his pants, and with his trademark abs on show. Cristiano Ronaldo model for Giorgio Armani

Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the headlines again

Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the headlines again, with another stellar performance capped off with a sending off. Two goals in the first half guaranteed that Real would inch closer to Barca at the top of the league, but an unintentional swing of his arm cost him the last twenty minutes of the match.

Within six minutes of playing time, Kaka and Ronaldo managed to step into Malaga's box, but it was the visiting side who had the first chance to score in the game with a cross from Duda that Xabi Alonso dangerously headed onto the crossbar!

Real Madrid gradually began to dominate the game. An exceptional pass from Guti to Benzema, who in turn served the ball to Kaka started the rn-up to the first goal. The Brazilian controlled it and passed it to Cristiano Ronaldo, who then side-foted home. Real Madrid wanted more, and Guti served an incredible ball to Ronaldo, who scored again from outside the box.

Cristiano Ronaldo saw red when Mtiliga was hit in the face by his tailing arm, but thankfully the few chances left in the match were all Real Madrid's.

I didn't mean it

Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that his arm caught Mtiliga by complete accident, and is sorry that he was hurt. Ronaldo was sent off for the challenge, which left his counterpart with a broken nose. The video tapes show it was accidental.
"I always want to play and these things anger me." said Ronaldo of the suspension. "I've spoken to Mtiliga and he said he doesn't believe I should apologise because he doesn't think I hurt him intentionally."
"Those who understand football will see the tackle wasn't worthy of a red card. I was unlucky to hit his nose."
"I never try to trick referees. I never intended to injure the player. I believe they should be fair with what really happened. I didn't want to injure anybody. I'm not that kind of person. I'm not a bad person. I just want to shine while I play football. I'll be angry when I get home because I'm suspended and won't be able to play in the next match."