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Real Madrid prepare for Champions League with thumping victory

By Najam Arfeen

MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 10: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF celebrates scoring their fourth goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Real Sociedad de Futbol at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 10, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 10: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF celebrates scoring their fourth goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Real Sociedad de Futbol at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 10, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid and Ronaldo deliver flurry of goals before PSG clash…

In a season where Real Madrid’s form has been far too erratic to predict, Saturday’s win over Real Sociedad offered a glimpse of consistency. The home side roared to an emphatic four-goal lead within the first-half and added another after the break. It was a more subdued performance in the latter stages from Zidane’s men, who clearly had one eye on their midweek encounter with PSG.

Los Blancos got off to a blistering start as Lucas Vazquez nodded the ball in with just a minute on the clock. The Spanish winger is not known for his aerial prowess, but he made no mistake from Ronaldo’s pin-point cross. It was just the start Real Madrid needed to tame the Bernabéu crowd, which has been left disappointed on multiple occasions this season.

The pressure continued to mount after the opener, and it didn’t take long for another goal to arrive. A brilliant team move involving Marcelo and Asensio was finished off by a powerful Ronaldo strike. It was the kind of fluid interchange we’ve come to expect from this Madrid side – one that’s desperately in need of a confidence boost.

A third goal came just ten minutes later from Toni Kroos. The German midfielder scored in trademark fashion, side-footing the ball into the top corner after receiving the ball on the edge of the box. Remarkably, the onslaught only turned worse for Sociedad as Ronaldo netted his second goal almost immediately after – allowing Real Madrid to wrap up the game as early as the 37th minute.

There was a noticeable drop in intensity from Los Blancos in the second-half and this allowed Sociedad to finally threaten their defence. Despite numerous opportunities, it wasn’t until the 74th minute that the away side actually got something on the scoreboard. Jon Bautista was left open in the box, and the forward expertly finished at Keylor Navas’ near-post. Ronaldo responded shortly after, completing his first hat-trick of the season in the process.

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Illaramendi rounded off the scoring in the 83rd minute with a well-executed free-kick. It was another clean-sheet lost for Real Madrid, who should not be content with conceding so late – especially after defending well for the vast majority of the game. In any case, there were plenty of positives for Zidane and his players going into a season-deciding tie with PSG. Los Blancos clicked into gear at roughly the same time last season, and all eyes will be on them midweek to see if they can reproduce those highs.

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