Feb 11, 2018
Cristiano Ronaldo netted a hat-trick as Real Madrid warmed up for next week’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain with a 5-2 thumping of Real Sociedad.
It took Zinedine Zidane’s side just 45 seconds to open the scoring, with Lucas Vazquez heading home from a Ronaldo cross to get the hosts up and running. From that point on, they never looked back, taking a 4-0 lead before half time following a double from Ronaldo and another from Toni Kroos.
With the match already won, Real took their foot off the pedal in the second half, conceding twice as familiar defensive frailties showed up again. But there was still time for Ronaldo to complete his hat-trick, making the most of some slack goalkeeper to finish into an empty net following an initial shot from Gareth Bale.
Now, Real Madrid face a season-defining test against PSG. With Zidane’s side already out of the Copa del Rey and out of contention for the Liga title, their entire campaign will come down to what they can do in the Champions League.
