These two goals were also Cristiano Ronaldoâ€s frist goals since turning 25 on February 5th.

Xerez vs Real Madrid – first half:

Right from the start of the first period, the hosts looked dangerous. After only five minutes gone down the clock, Xerezâ€s Carlos Calvo almost stunned the away crowd but his shot was deflected away.

The pressure created by the home team was so intense that Real Madridâ€s Sergio Ramos sustained a yellow card in the early stages of the match. Xerezâ€s Momo also tried to deceive Los Blancos†defense but he failed to do so by missing the target.

A quarter of an hour ran down the clock before Real Madrid commenced looking alive in attack. Cristiano Ronaldo was set up by Alvaro Arbeloa but his shot could only go straight into the keeper.

The Portuguese winger had another chance to open the scoring sheet moments later when Redondo cheaply gave away the ball.

From Reuters Images

Xabi Alonso and Esteban Granero both came close to breaking the deadlock for Real Madrid. At the other end of the picth, Bermejo also missed a good opportunity for Xerez to take the lead.

At half time, the score line was 0-0 but this didnâ€t mean that the game was dull.

Xerez vs Real Madrid – second half:

Quickly after the break, the match was temporarily postponed after a spectator in the name of Francisco Holgado ran onto the field of play.

The manâ€s gestures explained that he was manifesting against injustice after the death of his murdered son. Security officers attempted to pull him out of the place while Xerez players tried to calm things down.

The man later left the field and he was applauded by the whole crowd. Play eventually resumed.

Xerez looked to have done an extremely good job against Real Madrid as they kept their lines clean for up to 60 minutes. However, things suddenly turned around three minutes past the hour mark when Alvaro Arbeloa broke the deadlock.

The defender was sent through on goal by Xabi Alonsoâ€s intelligent ball. He raced forward and lashed the ball at the back of the net from inside the eighteen yard box. His shot left Xerezâ€s goalkeeper Renan helpless in his post.

After that, the rest of the show was destined to be Cristiano Ronaldoâ€s and it took the player only two minutes to impose his authority.

The number 9 forward who had not enjoyed La Liga football for two weeks made his mark on Xerezâ€s turf and somehow sent a clear message to the public of football: that he is back and on fire.

Firstly, Cristiano Ronaldo opened his account in the game with a flying header. Kakaâ€s cross came in from the right hand side and few might have thought that the Portuguese will hit that ball to score from such a position.

It was surely quite a way to set up the away crowd with excitement and to stun Xerez.

From Reuters Images

Ahead of the encounter, Cristiano Ronaldo had talked about the Brazilian midfielder as an important player for Los Blancos who was just starting to prove his value to his critics after recovering from his hernia injury.

In fact, Kaka was instrumental on Saturday night. He was sent clean through on goal by Cristiano Ronaldo and could have slaughtered the ball at the back of the net after rounding the keeper.

However, as Xerezâ€s stoppers crowded the penalty box in defense and as goalkeeper Renan was making himself big, Kaka preferred to intelligently square the ball back to Cristiano Ronaldo. The ultimate thing for the Portuguese striker was to drive the ball past the goal line, and he made no mistake doing so.

Cristiano Ronaldoâ€s brilliant performance against Xerez on Saturday inspired Real Madrid to a 3-0 victory that saw them cut the gap at the top of the table to two points. In the match of the weekend, Barcelona lost to Atletico Madrid, meaning that the two-point gap remained the same.

After trampling Xerez 3-0, Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madridâ€s mission will be to bring down bottom side Tenerife in their next La Liga fixture this weekend.

Watch the video highlights of this game (Xerez 0-3 Real Madrid) here and keep exploring Football Fan Talk’s Video Gallery!

Angela Asante, Footballfantalk.com

The post Xerez 0-3 Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Two Goals Rounds Up Victory first appeared on Cristiano Ronaldo Fan | News, Photos, Blog, Pics, Videos.

Cristiano Ronaldoâ€s match ban is over! The € 94 million signing will finally return to La Liga action this weekend with Real Madrid when Los Blancos play against Xerez away from home on match-day 22.

While struggling Xerez will try and pull out an upset on their own soil, Real Madrid will try to repeat the 5-0 exploit which they recorded against the Azulinos at the Santiago Bernabeu last September.

Xerez analyses

Xerez occupy the last place in the table standings. Their chances of surviving relegation look slim:

They have a total of only 11 points only after 21 games played, and they are 6 points off Tenerife (who are 19th). However, the Azulinos refuse to give in on their dream of staying in Spainâ€s Primera Division for another year.

Playing against Real Madrid on Saturday evening could present two outcomes:

A positive result which will boost Xerezâ€s spirit but shock the Spanish giants.

An “expected” negative result (as many may think) which will add more salt to their wounds.

Real Madrid analyses

Los Blancos could enjoy a perfect weekend; that is if they beat Xerez and if Barcelona lose to Atletico Madrid in the match of the week on Sunday.

Five points separate Real Madrid from the 2008/09 La Liga champions. The gap will therefore be cut to two points if the Spanish giants grab a victory.

Real Madrid defeated Xerez 5-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu when the two teams met in the first half of Spain’s La Liga campaign.

Cristiano Ronaldo facts

From Reuters Images

Cristiano Ronaldo scored after only 47 seconds against Xerez when Real Madrid hosted the Azulinos in the first part of the campaign.

He went on to clinch a brace with a second half header and might have recorded a hat-trick as well but he was taken off as a substitute.

In La Liga’s top scorers chart, Cristiano Ronaldo is in sixth place like Diego Forlan with 9 goals while Lionel Messi tops the list with 16 goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo will only be playing in his 13th La Liga game this season. The Portuguese star winger missed as much as seven league matches for Real Madrid through injury and suspension.

The year 2010 hasn’t been so great for Cristiano Ronaldo so far but on Saturday, he could put all his troubles behind him by helping Real Madrid defeat Xerez in order to keep pace with Barcelona in La Liga standings.

Angela Asante, Footballfantalk.com

The post Xerez vs Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo Finally Returns In La Liga first appeared on Cristiano Ronaldo Fan | News, Photos, Blog, Pics, Videos.

Ronaldo celebrates against Xerez

Real Madridâ€s on-fire number 9, Cristiano Ronaldo, continued his excellent form for Los Blancos on Sunday as he scored a brace against Xerez.

The 24-year-old Portuguese winger set the tone for the home side at the earliest stage with a 47- second goal.
Ronaldo finished off his rapid run from the midfield to the edge of the penalty box with a lashing strike to beat Xerezâ€s goalkeeper Renan.

During the whole of the match, the Portuguese superstar was deadly and only inches away from celebrating a goal feast. At a point in the first half, Ronaldo almost got a second goal but his shot was dodged away by the keeper. The ball came to the feet of Raul who tried to capitalize on the rebound but was denied by the impressive man in post, Renan.

So, Real Madrid went into the break with Cristiano Ronaldoâ€s goal separating the two sides. Los Blancos knew that getting the three points would not be enough to top La Liga standings. Due to Barcelonaâ€s 5-2 victory over Atletico Madrid the day before, Real Madrid were obliged to clinch a five-goal margin win in order to reach the top of the league for the first time this season.

Well, the last twenty minutes of the second half saw the gates of flood opened to the hosts. It began with Cristiano Ronaldo raising high above the rest and heading the ball home during a corner. Ronaldo could have got his hat-trick moments later, but instead of going for goal, the Portuguese winger made a pass to Benzema who miskicked the ball. It fell onto Guti – the number 14 midfielder did not miss his shot.

Benzema also grabbed his first La Liga goal after two previous attempts. The french man controlled the ball with beauty inside the D before firing a great shot with his left foot.

Late in the game, Cristiano Ronaldoâ€s former team mate at Manchester United, Ruud Van Nilsterooy, put some ice on the cake with a fifth goal which let Real Madrid edge Barcelona in La Liga standings.

Manuel Pellegriniâ€s men got the victory that they deserved. Los Blancos are yet to experience anything less than a victory this season.

For Cristiano Ronaldo, moments cannot be sweeter: he has now scored six goals in four matches for Real Madrid in all competitions. Four of those goals came in La Liga, meaning that the 2007/08 EPL Golden Boot winner now tops the Top Scorers chart in Spain.

The post Cristiano Ronaldo scores two goals against Xerez first appeared on Cristiano Ronaldo Fan | News, Photos, Blog, Pics, Videos.

Cristiano Ronaldo walks onto the Bernabeu stadium

Real Madrid’s starting line-up currently remains unknown as Manuel Pellegrini policy is to rotate his first XI in order to give the chance to all the players in the squad to play a role.

Ahead of Sunday’s game, there has been complaints over the introduction of the new ball which benefits strikers more than goalkeepers according to statements.

However, neither Casillas nor Xerez’s keeper Renan will want to take this issue as an excuse this weekend. Everyone’s eyes is on winning only.

In the preview poll, we ask you a simple question:

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