Real Madrid defeated Celta Vigo 3-0 at the Bernabeu on Saturday night to confirm their status as La Liga leaders but the game will be remembered more for the record breaking achievements of Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a record-breaking 23rd Primera Division hat-trick while Madrid equalled the Spanish record of 18 successive victories.
With Bulgarian minnows Ludogorets due to arrive in the Spanish capital on Tuesday night for their final Group B Champions League clash, Ancelotti will be confident of setting a new benchmark.
That will be all the sweeter for the natives safe in the knowledge they are removing the record set by Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona eight years ago.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for Ancelotti after he watched his array of stars lose twice in their opening three La Liga games this season.
Ronaldo’s latest treble moved him ahead of Telmo Zarra and Alfredo di Stefano for the most Primera Division hat-tricks.
The hot favourite to win his third Ballon d’Or award in a few weeks time, the Portuguese has now scored a staggering 23 goals in just 14 league games this season.
It came as little surprise to find Ronaldo gunning down Saturday’s opposition, the 29-year-old having scored nine goals in his previous five matches against Celta.
In their current form it is going to require a gargantuan effort to stop Ronaldo and his teammates becoming the first team to retain the Champions League trophy.
Madrid are currently 3.85 to secure back-to-back European crowns, while Ronaldo is 5.50 to finish as top scorer in this season’s competition.
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