Ronaldo’s record-setting goals set up Madrid’s 5-0 win over levante; Messi scores his 250th goal for Barca
Cristiano Ronaldo netted his 14th and 15th goals to set a record scoring start in a Spanish league season as Real Madrid eased to a 5-0 win at levante on Saturday, while lionel Messi scored to move one goal from the competition’s all-time scorer.
Messi guided league leaders Barcelona to a 3-0 win at home over promoted Eibar, setting up Xavi Hernandez to break through in the second half and scoring after Neymar had doubled the lead. Messi is now poised to equal Telmo Zarra’s milestone of 251 goals that has stood since 1955 next week at rival Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
While Messi closed on Zarra, Ronaldo made sure to make his own mark by breaking a record that had stood since the 1943-44 season when Oviedo’s Esteban Echevarria scored 14 goals through the first eight rounds.
The Ballon d’Or holder opened from the penalty spot in the 13th minute before adding another goal in the 61st, increasing his league-leading tally to 15 goals in eight rounds despite missing one game due to injury.
Javier Hernandez, James Rodriguez and Francisco “Isco” Alarcon also scored to rout the overmatched hosts at Ciutat de Valencia Stadium.
Ancelotti said that Gareth Bale didn’t play because of pain in his gluteus. The manager rested him as a precaution with Madrid visiting liverpool in the Champions league on Wednesday before the first Clasico of the season three days later.
Hernandez had a part in Ronaldo’s first goal when he took a pass in the area and was fouled from behind by Juanfran Garcia. Ronaldo stepped up and drove in the spot kick. Hernandez played well in place of the ill Karim Benzema and scored in the 38th when he headed Rodriguez’s cross in off the grass.
Ronaldo made it 3-0 with an electrifying slalom to dribble past two defenders and cap a counterattack started by Isco.
Rodriguez scored five minutes later after deftly controlling Toni Kroos’ lobbed pass with his chest, and Isco finished off the demoralized levante in the 82nd.
Eibar was not intimidated by its first match at Camp Nou, choosing its moments well to go forward and almost surprised Barcelona twice in an evenly-matched first half.
Forward Ander Capa misfired on an open goal from an angle in the 41st after he received a long pass and rounded Bravo, and three minutes later Bravo had to rush out to block Saul Berjon’s attempt.
Eibar hung on for an hour until Messi turned playmaker by picking out Xavi’s run and threading a ball through for the captain to score in the 60th.
Neymar calmed the uneasy Camp Nou crowd by volleying in Dani Alves’ cross in the 72nd for his eighth league goal of the season, and the Brazil striker worked a one-two to help Messi fire the ball in off the upright two minutes later.
Atletico Madrid beat Espanyol 2-0 Sunday to extend its unbeaten home streak in the Spanish league to 24 games.
Goalkeeper Miguel Moya saved Espanyol’s sole chance by lucas Vazquez in the 13th minute, and Tiago Cardoso put Atletico ahead in the 43rd when he floated a header over goalkeeper Kiko Casilla from Gabi Fernandez’s pass.
Atletico finished Espanyol off with a corner kick in the 71st, which was headed on by center backs Diego Godin and Jose Jimenez before Mario Suarez tapped the ball in.