Ronaldo keeps scoring

MADRID. — CRISTIANO Ronaldo now has just three players in front of him in Real Madrid’s all-time goals list after scoring in his side’s win over Valencia. The Portuguese forward has scored 164 goals in 151 games matching Mexican forward Hugo Sanchez who reached 164 in 207 games. Ronaldo now has only Santillana on 186 goals, Alfredo Di Stefano on 216 and Raul with 228 goals ahead of him.

Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-2 thanks to Ronaldo’s header, a fine first from Gareth Bale’s substitute Angel Di Maria and a late winner from 20-year-old Jese Rodriguez.

Bale missed his seventh game of the season with a knock on the calf and replacement Di Maria took his chance with a brilliant opener.
The Argentine cut between two defenders on the right and sent a left foot rocket past Vicente Guaita after 28 minutes.

Fellow Argentine Pablo Piatti equalized six minutes later with a header but Ronaldo put Madrid back in-front from Di Maria’s free-kick.
As well as matching Sanchez’ goal it was the former Manchester United forward’s 71st away from home for Madrid equaling Di Stefano’s haul on the road. The legendary Argentine took 140 games to reach 71 — Ronaldo has reached the landmark in just 76 games.

The goal was cancelled out by Jeremy Mathieu who got in front of Ramos to head a corner past Diego Lopez but Jese scored the late winner cutting in from the right and beating Guaita at his near post after a fine pass from Luka Modric. Jese might have scored a second but Ronaldo failed to play him in in injury time.

Both Jese and Di Maria had scored superb goals from Bale’s right wing but Di Maria was in and out of the game as Madrid made hard work of the win at Mestalla. Bale now has 10 days to recover before the new year starts with a trip to Qatar to play Paris Saint Germain in a friendly.

Madrid stay five points behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid who play each other in January giving Carlo Ancelotti’s team the perfect chance to close the gap at the top.

Defender Ramos who looked at fault for both Valencia’s goal admitted Valencia had made it difficult for Madrid. “We stay in touch at the top but it was hard fought,” he said.

“We have to improve defensively but it’s not about pointing the finger at one player, we lose as a team and we win as a team’’. — Mailonline.