Cristiano Ronaldo scored his seventh league hat-trick of the season but it wasn't enough to take Real Madrid's slim title hopes into the last weekend of the season.
Ronaldo’s treble took him to 45 goals for the season – a staggering haul for someone who courtesy of Barcelona's 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid, will not end up with a league winners medal.
His hat-trick was celebrated in much the same way as all the others he has scored for Real Madrid. It was meaningless for his team’s hopes of stealing the title from Barca’s grasp but it will probably ensure he picks up the Golden Shoe for European football’s top scorer.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his hat-trick for Real Madrid but it was not enough to take the title race to the final weekend
Ronaldo celebrates with Gareth Bale as Real Madrid beat Espanyol in Barcelona
Ronaldo and defender Marcelo celebrate after scoring surrounded by teammates during the win over Espanyol
Ronaldo celebrates by cupping his ear during Real's 4-1 win over EspaReal Madrid started brightly enough with full-back Dani Carvajal feeding Bale. He swapped passes with Karim Benzema but was offside when he received the return ball and so neither his first effort, which was saved nor his second which hit the post, would have counted.
Felipe Caicedo was Espayol’s most dangerous player and Keylor Navas, starting in place of the benched Iker Casillas, had to race out of his area and clear for a corner as the former Manchester City forward ran through.
Ronaldo and Bale linked up for Real Madrid’s next chance. He played a long cross-field pass to Bale and the Welshman crossed it back to him. But Ronaldo’s shot was palmed away for a corner.
Ronaldo rises highest to head home for Real Madrid against Espanyol to complete his seventh hat-trick of the season
Then came Real Madrid’s best chance of the first half. Carvajal crossed and Ronaldo headed wide from edge of six-yard box. It was the sort of chance he usually gobbles up and the miss was met with the sarcastic Ronaldo-style shouts of ‘siiiiii!’ from home supporters.
Espanyol were looking dangerous on the break and Carvajal had to divert a Sergio Garcia shot wide. The former Spain forward got away again and Pepe flattened him cynically earning a yellow card.
Another very good pass from Bale found Ronaldo but he again failed to take advantage of it. Madrid were now playing poorly and the crossfield pass from Benzema that went straight out of play summed up the second period of the first half. Bale had played better than most and he linked with Carvajal but Ronaldo again missed the chance.
Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Marcelo gets in on the goal scoring act with his strike in the second half
Marcelo celebrates his goal as Real Madrid went on to win 4-1 at the Power8 Stadium in Barcelona
Bale helped Real Madrid win at Espanyol but he is yet to win the title in his two season's in Spain
Ronaldo and Karim Benzema react after squandering a chance in front of goal
Espanyol players celebrate Christian Stuani's goal against Real Madrid - but they were unable to get anything from the game
He would find his range in the second half as Madrid stepped up the pressure on the home side. First Benzema hit the post from Marcelo’s cross with the flag having already been raised. Ronaldo had another free-kick opportunity but blazed it high over Kiko Casilla’s bar. Hands on hips he stayed rooted to the spot and needed an encouraging pat on the back from Pepe before he carried on.
When his next chance came he silenced the home supporters. Pepe forced the play and fed Benzema and he crossed for Ronaldo to score left-footed.
That should have been game over but as Real Madrid’s players had been made aware of Barcelona’s league-winning goal back in the capital their heads went down and Espanyol equalized.
Keylor Navas was casual with possession and when the ball ran to Sergio Garcia he played it back to Christian Stuani he scored. It was tough on Navas who saved point-blank from Victor Sancez.
Espanyol looked for the winner but instead conceded a second. Ronaldo made the chance this time with Marcelo thrashing it past Casilla. And the Portuguese got the third running on to a pass from Javier Hernandez. The Manchester United forward was on as a substitute and had upset Ronaldo moments earlier for not playing him in. This time he did spot the run and play the pass and Ronaldo finished. Rising at the far post to head in a Marcelo cross Ronaldo completed his hat-trick.
Sadly for Real Madrid the game was won; but the league already lost.
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