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Cristiano Ronaldo

MADRID. — Cristiano Ronaldo made it 400 career goals in just 652 games, as Real Madrid beat Celta Vigo 3-0 on Monday night to close the gap on Spanish La Liga leaders Barcelona. Ronaldo was out of sorts for most of Real’s first game of the year but still arrived twice in the six-yard box to finish off crosses from full back Dani Carvajal and then Gareth Bale who came on as a second half substitute.

For a player whose finishing was seen as his weakness as a young winger at Sporting the 28-year-old’s achievement is an incredible one. His double took him to 29 goals so far this season in 22 games and it gets him off the mark for 2014 after closing 2013 on 69 goals for the calendar year.

The brace also carried him past Hugo Sanchez as the fourth highest scorer in Real Madrid’s history — not a bad way to count down the days to next week’s Ballon d’Or gala.

“The goals were for Eusebio,” said the player after the game. “I am grateful to Spain for the way they paid homage to him.”
After the pre-match minute’s silence for Eusebio it was Celta Vigo who had the best chance of the first half.
Striker Charles shot wide after being  put through by Augusto Fernandez.

Borja Oubiña also went close as the team coached by Luis Enrique, the former Roma coach linked with the Tottenham job last month. And with on-loan Barcelona midfielder Rafinha controlling the game in midfield Real struggled to make headway.

Luka Modric was their best player in a poor first half and came closest to scoring for the home side with a shot from distance that just cleared Yoel’s bar.

Xabi Alonso, who is currently playing with a burst eardrum did not reappear for the second half with Asier Illaramendi coming on for the Spain international who is now in the last six months of his contract and is free to negotiate a move away from the Bernabeu.

Celta continued to threaten and Charles missed his second clear-cut chance of the game. This time it was Rafinha who put him through but his first-time shot went well wide of Diego Lopez’ goal.

The visitors were always going to pay for their misses and when Bale and 20-year-old forward Jese came on midway through the second half Madrid moved up into another gear. Jese might have scored with his first touch but saw his low shot smothered by Yoel.

But moments later he crossed cleverly for Karim Benzema who gave Real Madrid the lead. That was the cue for Ronaldo to join the New Year’s party.

He tapped-in Carvajal’s cross from the right and then turned in Bale’s assist after the Welshman darted to the byline and pulled the ball back for Ronaldo to score.

Most expect him to be crowned Fifa World Player of the Year next week at the Ballon d’Or Gala in Zurich. He will attend Monday’s presentation of the award and does so having scored the 400th goal of his career.

Confirming his attendance, Ronaldo said: “The matter is closed and I don’t want to talk about it anymore, I just want to say that I’m going to the Gala.”

“I don’t know if it’s fair or not if I, Ribery or Messi win. I just try to do my job like I always do, to help Real Madrid by scoring goals and put in good performances.

If I win, great and if not, life goes on and I’ll continue to keep doing what I’ve always done.”Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said after the game: “We switched to  4-4-2 in the latter stages. Ronaldo prefers to play on the wing but he switched to the middle and managed to score from his two chances.”

Meanwhile, Celta Vigo coach Luis Enrique lamented: “What do we need to do to climb table?
“See that rectangular thing? And that round thing? Hit the round thing into the rectangular thing.” — Mailonline.