Sport

Ronaldo seals win for Real

CRISTIANO RONALDO came off the bench to seal a 3-0 win for Real Madrid away to Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday, while Zlatan …

Mon Sept 14 2009 - 01:00

CRISTIANO RONALDO came off the bench to seal a 3-0 win for Real Madrid away to Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic inspired a 2-0 win for Barcelona at Getafe.

Esteban Granero struck to give Real the lead just before the break, Guti made it 2-0 in the 77th minute and Ronaldo wrapped up the victory in added time.

It was an emotional evening for the Espanyol players and fans as it was their first home league match since captain Dani Jarque collapsed and died last month and their first competitive game in their new Cornella-El Prat stadium.

Barcelona had earlier got their second win from two when Ibrahimovic made up for a glaring miss in the first half by scoring one and creating the clinching second goal for Lionel Messi.

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Barcelona, who have yet to concede a goal, are top with six points, ahead of Real on goal difference.

Real coach Manuel Pellegrini left record €94 million signing Ronaldo and captain Raul out of his starting line-up and Espanyol had the pick of the chances in the early stages.

Granero’s goal came after he exchanged passes with Brazilian playmaker Kaka and finished past goalkeeper Carlos Kameni.

Kaka, signed from AC Milan for €67 million in the close season, then surged to the byline and cut the ball back for Guti to double the lead with just over 10 minutes left.

Ronaldo replaced the ineffective Karim Benzema and was on hand to slot into an empty net for Real’s third.

Pellegrini told a news conference the poor state of the new pitch had made it difficult for the players.

At Getafe’s Coliseum, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola left Messi, Thierry Henry, Daniel Alves and fit-again Andres Iniesta on the bench and the European champions came under early pressure.

Guardiola brought on Messi and Iniesta just before the hour and they took the lead almost immediately when Ibrahimovic stuck out a leg to steer the ball in off a post from Eric Abidals deflected cross.

The Swede then controlled an Alves centre on his chest and chipped a perfect first-time cross for Messi to power in a rare headed goal.