Cristiano Ronaldo hits four as Real Madrid destroy Celta

Ronaldo looked like a man with a point to prove, and his fourth in the massacre was his 252nd La Liga goal, surpassing Telmo Zarra for second place in all-time La Liga scoring charts behind Lionel Messi (305).

With Barcelona a commanding 12 points ahead of Real coming in to this encounter, nothing other than three points would do for the men from the capital. And the pressure seemed to be getting to Zinedine Zidane’s men, who were lacklustre in the first half, and were fortunate not to go behind, as former Liverpool hitman Iago Aspas hit the woodwork from a few yards out.

Somewhat against the run of play, Pepe gave the hosts the lead, heading in from a right-wing corner – settling Real’s nerves, and they let loose after the break.

Ronaldo got his first of the afternoon in the 50th minute, and what a strike it was from 25-yards, with all the dip and swerve you’d want on an effort at goal.

The Portuguese wasn’t finished there. A beautifully flighted free-kick from Ronaldo put Real three goals to the good, before Isco squared for the goal machine to net his 14-minute hat-trick.

Aspas scored a delightful consolation that deserved better recognition in between Ronaldo’s second and third, as he cheekily lofted the ball over Keylor Navas.

The strike that moved Ronaldo into second in the all-time charts came from a header, before allowing others to get in on the act.

Substitute Jese scored a great solo goal for Real’s sxith, before Gareth Bale fired in with his left foot to complete the rout.

Barca may be well clear, but that result will do their confidence a world of good ahead of their midweek Champions League clash with Roma. All is not yet lost…

14’ - SAVE! CELTA SHOULD BE IN FRONT! Incredible opportunity for the visitors. Aspas is free in the box, but somehow can only head onto the crossbar. The ball falls to the Spaniard again, but he is denied by Navas, blocking with his legs from a matter of yards out. Really should have scored.

21’ - SAVE AGAIN! Brilliant again from Blanco, as Isco looked certain to score. With Celta appealing for handball, Isco brings the ball down, cuts inside, but cannot beat Blanco from six-yards! Stunning stop.

41’ GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Celta. Pepe with the header gives the hosts the lead, somewhat against the run of play.

50’ - GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Celta. Stunning strike from Ronaldo doubles the hosts' lead. It had to be him. An absolute thunderbolt from Ronaldo from 25 yards. Blanco has absolutely no chance. Incredible dip and swerve on the ball.

57’ - GOAL! Real Madrid 3-0 Celta. The Ronaldo show rolls on. Fantastic free-kick from the Portuguese. Blanco rooted to the spot.

62’ - GOAL! Real Madrid 3-1 Celta. What a finish from Iago Aspas! Celta back in it! He has hardly been in prolific form, but that took some confidence! Great ball over the top plays Aspa in, he's in the clear, and with Navas advancing, the Spaniard lofts the ball delightfully over the Real 'keeper into the net.

64’ - GOAL! Real Madrid 4-1 Celta. Hat-trick for Ronaldo inside 14 minutes! Very unselfish from Isco, who squares the ball for Ronaldo to tap home. Fine move, fine goal.

76’ - GOAL! Real Madrid 5-1 Celta. Five for Real, four for Ronaldo as he heads in.

77’ - GOAL! Real Madrid 6-1 Celta. Jese gets in on the act! Brilliant from the substitute, as he engineers the chance all for himself, cuts inside and fires an unstoppable strike past Blanco. It's raining goals on the Spanish plain...

81’ - GOAL! Real Madrid 7-1 Celta. Bale this time! Everyone wants a piece! This is harsh on Celta, who have not been this bad. Bale works the ball on to his left, fires across Blanco and in off the post.

Cristiano Ronaldo. Who else? His first two goals were worthy of the grandest of stages, but it was his intensity and desire to prove a point that left us breathless. The fire is back, opponents beware.

Real Madrid: Navas 7, Carvajal 6, Ramos 7, Pepe 7, Danilo 6, Isco 7, Casemiro 6, Kovacic 6, Vazquez 7, Mayoral 6, Ronaldo 10. Subs: Bale 8, Marcelo 7, Jese 7

Celta Vigo: Ruben 7, Jonny 6, Mallo 5, Gomez 5, Planas 6, Wass 6, Diaz 6, Hernandez 6, Orellana 5, Aspas 6, Nolito 6. Subs: Radoja 5, Guidetti 5, Beauvue 5.

Ronaldo lets his feet do the talking. After his comments about his team-mates last week, Cristiano Ronaldo had to prove his words had some resonance, and he did so with the conviction of a man still at the very top of his game. The Portuguese looked frustrated in the first 45 minutes, but class is very much permanent, and once he’d found the net once with a thunderbolt of a strike from 25 yards, you knew he wasn’t finished there. If Real are going to have any say in this title race, Ronaldo is once again going to have to be the main man.

Celta haven't conceded at least seven goals in a La Liga game since 1959 (9-0 at San Mamés).

Ten of Pepe's eleven goals in La Liga for Real Madrid have been from set pieces.

Ronaldo has scored his 30th La Liga hat-trick. Messi is on 26 hat-tricks in La Liga.