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Real Madrid reclaimed third place from Valencia when Ronaldo took his La Liga goals tally this season to 22 with four in a 6-3 victory over Girona at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo has now scored 21 goals in all competitions in 13 games since the turn of the year.
“I hope that he can catch Messi in La Liga (he is three goals behind), it’s important for him and for us,” said Real coach Zinedine Zidane.
FT: #RealMadrid 6-3 @GironaFC (@Cristiano 11′, 47′, 64′, 90’+1′, @Lucasvazquez91 59′, @GarethBale11 86′; Stuani 29′, 67′, Juanpe 88′).#Emirates | #RMLiga pic.twitter.com/QgYiCpXJxN
— Real Madrid C.F.???? (@realmadriden) March 18, 2018
“When Cristiano plays well, the team plays well.”
The Portuguese star opened the scoring with a deflection after 11 minutes, adding his second off the crossbar three minutes after the break when the two sides had been locked 1-1.
Ronaldo teed up Lucas Vazquez on the hour mark before completing his hat-trick four minutes later and adding a fourth in stoppage time.
Welsh star Gareth Bale was also on the scoresheet four minutes from time.
Second-placed Atletico effectively surrendered their hopes of overhauling Barca at the top, as two late goals from 20-year-old Turkey striker Enes Unal handed Villarreal a 2-1 victory over Diego Simeone’s side.
Antoine Griezmann converted a first-half penalty after he was impeded by Jaume Costa, before Koke hit the post.
But Unal headed in an 82nd-minute equaliser for the hosts and turned home a stoppage-time winner as Villarreal climbed up to fifth.
Sevilla crashed to a 2-1 league defeat by Leganes just days after pulling off the surprise elimination of Manchester United in the Champions League.
The loss means Sevilla are increasingly unlikely to qualify for the Champions League through La Liga this season.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad sacked coach Eusebio Sacristan on Sunday with the team in 15th place with Imanol Alguacil installed until the end of the season.
