Saturday 29 October 2016 21:24, UK
Zinedine Zidane felt Real Madrid passed a test of character as they saw off Alaves 4-1 with the help of a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick.
Ronaldo also missed a penalty in an impressive personal return to form but the La Liga leaders Real did not have things all their own way at the Mendizorrotza Stadium.
Real needed to come from behind after Deyverson struck early for the hosts and it was not until the final six minutes, when Alvaro Morata struck and Ronaldo completed his treble, they could breathe easily.
Zidane said on the club's website, www.realmadrid.com: "I'm pleased with the match. I'm impressed with the perseverance we showed because the first half and the start of the second were not easy.
"It was a difficult win because our opponents did very well but I think it was deserved. You don't win La Liga without suffering a bit - it's impossible - and today we showed we can suffer against a tough opponent.
"We kept our cool and we experienced some difficult periods. Thinking that you're Real Madrid doesn't win you games. Alaves made it very hard for us."
Ronaldo has not been at his prolific best this season, with just two goals in his previous six La Liga outings, but Zidane praised the forward's resilience.
He said: "It's great that Cristiano Ronaldo scored, and that he did so three times is even better. We are happy with his performance.
"We are always going to ask that he scores goals but he was good in every aspect. Let's hope it stays that way. He has a lot of patience and showed today that with hard work anything is possible."
