Ronaldo hits double in Real Madrid romp to make it a staggering 212 goals in 208 games
By
Pete Jenson for MailOnline
Published:
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Updated:
It was Angel Di Maria doing the love heart celebrations at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night after his man-of-the-match performance eased Real Madrid to a 4-0 win.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated 100 games in European competition with a double but it was Di Maria who took full advantage of Gareth Bale’s absence by netting the third and fourth as well as providing a spectacular assist for the second.
Ronaldo took his overall goal tally to 212 in 208 games for Madrid ? the former Manchester United forward has now scored 40 goals in 42 Champions League games for Real.
All white on the night: Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with his Real Madrid team-mates after opening the scoring
Match facts
Real Madrid:
Casillas, Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo, Di Maria, Modric (Isco 67), Khedira (Morata 74), Illarramendi, Benzema (Jese 81), Ronaldo.
Subs Not Used:
Diego Lopez, Sergio Ramos, Coentrao, Arbeloa.
Booked:
Modric.
Goals:
Ronaldo 21, 66, Di Maria 71, 90.
FC Copenhagen:
Wiland, Jacobsen, Mellberg, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Gislason, Delaney, Claudemir, Toutouh (Bolanos 63), Braaten (Adi 67), Jorgensen (Kristensen 72).
Subs Not Used:
Jensen, Vetokele, Margreitter, Remmer.
Booked:
Braaten, Delaney.
Att:
71,000
Ref:
Matej Jug (Slovenia).
Madrid took the three points with a largely flat performance interrupted only by Ronaldo’s goals and three moments of sublime skill from Di Maria. The Argentine chose to stay in Spain in the summer to fight Bale for his place in the side and with Madrid’s new record signing ruled out by injury he took full advantage crossing for Ronaldo’s second goal with a ‘rabona’ and then firing in the third and fourth.
By the time Bale returns to the side Madrid could be all but into the knockout stages of the competition after FC Copenhagen offered little resistance to them making it two straight wins so far.?
Karim Benzema missed a header from inside the six-yard box after just six minutes and Di Maria was then pushed in the area by Pierre Bengtsson only for the referee to wave away appeals for a penalty.
Copenhagen looked every bit the team that are currently one off the bottom of the Danish Super League but Madrid were not taking advantage and Ronaldo showed his frustration when one 40-yard pass from Asier Illarramendi flew over his head.
He was then given space at the back post and when Marcelo crossed he headed the centre past Johan Wiland.
Head boy: Ronaldo completed a fine attacking move to score Real Madrid's first goal at the Bernabeu
RONALDO HEADED THE BALL HOME TO COMPLETE A TEAM MOVE FOR THE OPENING GOAL - CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE FACTS AND STATS IN OUR BRILLIANT MATCH ZONE
Madrid almost doubled their lead when Di Maria fed Benzema and he pulled the ball back intelligently to the Argentine who shot wide
Iker Casillas made his first save of the night on 27 minutes from Lars Jakobsen’s shot.
Spain’s first-choice keeper is Real Madrid’s second choice this season playing only in the Champions League and his error just before half-time almost cost Luka Modric his place on the pitch and Real the lead.
He came for a corner and got nowhere it and when Nicolai Jorgensen headed against the bar Modric cleared the ball off the line with his arm.
At the double: Ronaldo was Real Madrid's main man once again as he helped them on the way to victory
Game over: Angel Di Maria completed the scoring as Real Madrid eased to victory over Copenhagen
In the wars: Pepe needed treatment after a clash of heads but Real Madrid left Copenhagen well beaten
Madrid were down to 10 men at the time with Pepe being given stitches on the touchline for a bloody wound after a clash of heads.?
Modric, who was booked in the first half for a late challenge on Ragnar Sigurdsson, had the first chance of the second half with a shot that went just wide of Wiland’s goal.?
Pepe then got his head to a Di Maria free-kick but the effort looped up into Wiland’s grasp. When it seemed the second goal was not going to come Real Madrid produced the move of the night.
Game over: Angel Di Maria completed the scoring as Real Madrid eased to victory over a beaten Copenhagen
Di Maria fed Benzema who backheeled the return. The Argentine crossed with a ‘rabona’ and Ronaldo headed home from close range. That made it five in the Champions League so far this season and 26 in his last 21 European Cup games.?
Di Maria, occupying the postion ultimately reserved for the ￡86million man Bale, was now full of confidence and moments later he cut in from the right and beat Wiland left-footed from the edge of the area.
He repeated the trick on 90 minutes to make it four before a point blank save from Casillas at the other end from Cristian Bolanos and two more from the same move in injury time ensured Madrid kept a clean sheet.
He's got skills: Di Maria took full advantage of Gareth Bale's absence to put in a man-of-the-match performance
Close control: Luka Modric keeps hold of the ball as Copenhagen find themselves torn apart in Madrid