Real Madrid

Real Madrid remain the top team in La Liga after a lopsided 1-4 win against Valladolid. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first of the night and was followed by Higuain, who hammered the nail in the coffin with a hat-trick.

With so much at stake for both teams, it was Valladolid who dictated the tempo of the opening minutes and pressured the Whites with aggressive offense. Marquitos curled in the first warning shot on 6’ and the Pucelano advance continued for a quarter hour. But Real Madrid held their ground and eventually gained the upper hand in ball possession and the match.

Sergio Ramos was thwarted twice in a matter of milliseconds by Justo Villar, but Cristiano Ronaldo found the back of the net with a magically struck free kick five minutes later. The match grew more intense and in response the hosts grew rougher.

Pele nearly pulled Valladolid level on 37’, but Casillas deflected the ball which later struck off the crossbar. Real Madrid didn’t fail to capitalize on its next opportunity. Van der Vaart swung a perfect ball in from the the right side of the box and Higuain redirected it into the goal for his 17th of the season.

The Whites were dialed in after the restart and in six minutes put the match in the books when Higuain  beat Justo Villar in a one-on-one. Valladolid tried their best to claw back and did so thanks to an own goal by Albiol, but their efforts were too little too late.

The door was slammed shut when Pipita put the exclamation point on his hat-trick following a shot by Cristiano Ronaldo and ensuing clearance by Justo Villar. The Argentine striker’s 19th league goal of the season put Real Madrid up 1-4. Valladolid had no gas to mount a comeback and Los Blancos left Zorrilla Stadium having successfully defended their place atop the league table.

Lineups

Valladolid
Justo Villar
Pedro López
Del Horno
Pelé
Baraja
Nivaldo 9'
César Arzo
C. Lázaro
Medunjanin
Diego Costa
Nauzet Alemán
Bueno 73'
Marquitos
Keko 63'

Real Madrid
Casillas
Arbeloa
Albiol	(Own goal)Goal 61'
Sergio Ramos
Marcelo
Lass
Van der Vaart
Xabi Alonso
Gago 89'
Granero
Guti H. 72'
Cristiano Ronaldo	Goal 28'
Higuaín	Goal 45' 55' 68'
Raúl 77'