AMSTERDAM: Cristiano Ronaldo was in treble form as Real Madrid tuned up for this weekend’s Clasico with a stylish 4-1 win at Ajax on Wednesday to maintain their perfect start to the fledgling Champions League campaign.
Ronaldo was joined on the score-sheet by Karim Benzema, with Ajax’s lone strike coming from Niklas Moisander.
“Real are back,” said winning coach Jose Mourinho. “This is the first time this season we’ve won three or four matches in a row, that’s important for our objectives and our confidence.”
Ajax’s Kenneth Vermeer kept the Spanish giants at bay until three minutes from the interval, when Benzema broke down the left side and cut the ball back for Ronaldo to prod home from close range. Ajax reduced the deficit on 56 minutes, but Ronaldo put the game to bed, curling in a shot past Vermeer in the 79th minute, then two minutes later chipping in substitute Sami Khedira’s pass over the hapless goalkeeper’s head for his first ever treble in the competition.
Madrid will now go into Sunday’s clash against arch rivals and La Liga leaders Barcelona with a spring in their step.
Balotelli’s last-gasp penalty saves City
Meanwhile, Mario Balotelli’s last-minute penalty secured Manchester City a 1-1 Champions League draw with Borussia Dortmund.
A goal from Marco Reus looked to be enough to secure victory for Jurgen Klopp’s team, but with just two minutes left Neven Subotic was penalised for handball and Balotelli converted from the spot to earn City a point that could prove crucial.
Klopp was delighted with his side’s vibrant display.
“I have congratulated the team,” said Klopp. “They produced a great game and it was fun to watch.”
However, Reus was disappointed with the outcome.
“That is very bitter, when you concede a penalty in the last minute,” he said. “I don’t know if it should have been a penalty. We deserved to win the game.”
Arsenal claim exciting win over Olympiacos
In another match, Lukas Podolski maintained Arsenal’s 100 per cent start to their Champions League campaign as the Gunners recovered from a lacklustre opening to beat Greek side Olympiacos 3-1.
Arsene Wenger’s side were below their best for long periods but Germany forward Podolski made the crucial contribution as he put Arsenal ahead after Gervinho’s opener was cancelled out by Olympiacos striker Kostas Mitroglou.
“They [Olympiacos] made it really tough for us,” said Arsenal assistant coach Steve Bould. “We started off not bad, but then looked nervous. We lost a little bit of confidence, but overall it is a fantastic result.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2012.
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