Real Madrid vs Sevilla. Spanish La Liga.
Santiago BernabeuAttendance76,924.
Sunday 10 December 2017 00:06, UK
Real Madrid blew Sevilla away with a first-half blitz at the Bernabeu and head off to the Club World Cup after dishing out a comprehensive 5-0 thrashing.
Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who set a Champions League record with his goal in the win over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, capped his fine week with a quick-fire double after Nacho had opened the scoring after just three minutes.
Toni Kroos then converted a superb breakaway goal before 19-year-old Achraf Hakimi coolly slotted in his first goal for the club three minutes before the interval to put Real five clear at the break.
Sorry Sevilla attempted to salvage some pride in the second half but despite Real easing off the pace and substituting their key men, the hosts almost had a sixth when Karim Benzema headed against the woodwork.
Real had gone into the game with concerns. They were without the suspended Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal and Casemiro, while Raphael Varane was out injured. The hosts also knew defeat to fifth-placed Sevilla could have left them 11 points behind Barcelona ahead of the upcoming Clasico, should their rivals have beaten Villarreal on Sunday.
However, Real were immediately on the front foot, winning a corner inside a minute - and did not let up from there on. A defensive mix-up between Simon Kjaer and Luis Muriel at a subsequent corner allowed Nacho to tuck in from close range.
Sevilla responded positively without creating a clear-cut opening but were two down on 23 minutes when Ronaldo finished neatly from Marco Asensio's through ball.
Ronaldo then had a penalty appeal rightly waved away after a clash with Clement Lenglet but when Jesus Navas handled the ball in the box moments later, the Portuguese stepped up to the spot to double his tally and make it three on 31 minutes.
Ronaldo could have had his hat-trick with a spectacular scissor kick before mishitting a volley but he set up Real's rapid breakaway fourth, with Kroos exchanging passes with Lucas Vazquez before sliding the ball home.
And it was five when teenager Achraf finished off another move instigated by Ronaldo.
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane took the opportunity to withdraw Kroos, Luka Modric and Ronaldo in the second half as his team took their foot off the gas, although Benzema continued to search for a way to get his own name on the scoresheet, seeing a shot blocked from range and his header come back off an upright.
Real Madrid's thoughts now turn to the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia, which they will be involved in next week - before they return to La Liga action for the key clash with Barcelona on December 23.
