04 May,2015 08:29 AM IST | | AFP
A Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick maintained Real Madrid's La Liga title aspirations as they ended Sevilla's 34-game unbeaten run at home with a 3-2 win on Saturday night
Madrid: A Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick maintained Real Madrid's La Liga title aspirations as they ended Sevilla's 34-game unbeaten run at home with a 3-2 win on Saturday night. Victory kept the European champions just two points behind Barcelona with three games to play after Luis Suarez scored his first hat-trick for the Catalans in a 8-0 humiliation of relegated Cordoba.
Ronaldo shoots to score against Sevilla
"It was not easy to win here and we have managed it. It is not by coincidence that they haven't lost for 34 games at this stadium," said Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.
The game in Madrid's favour in the space of two first-half minutes when Sevilla were down to 10 men as Grzegorz Krychowiak was off the field receiving treatment for a facial injury. Ronaldo headed home from Isco's cross and then prodded in from Javier Hernandez's flick-on moments later. Sergio Ramos then upended Vidal inside the area and Carlos Bacca converted from the penalty spot. Ronaldo looked to have sealed the three points with a stunning header from Gareth Bale's cross before Vicente Iborra reduced the deficit once more.