Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo: The goal against Zaragoza was one of my best

Portugal international keen to extend club's winning run

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo says that his goal against Zaragoza on Sunday evening was one of the best of his career.

The Portugal international was on target with a thunderous free-kick on 44 minutes in the 3-1 victory over the relegation-threatened side.

The win helped Real keep pace with leaders Barcelona, and Ronaldo believes that it is a sign they have bounced back from their Clasico hammering.

"My goal is a sign that the team is working hard," the 25-year-old is quoted as saying by Madrid's official website. "It was one of the best goals of my career.

"We are playing well. I wouldn't have been able to score had my team-mates not provoked the foul. I am pleased. We want to extend this winning streak as long as we can."

Reflecting on their performance in Zaragoza, the former Ballon d'Or winner said: "We were very relaxed at the start and Zaragoza came out motivated. Things got a lot easier once we scored.

"That is when we started to play better. It wasn't an easy match. They started off strong, but [Mesut] Oezil's goal served us well and helped us take control."

Ronaldo double helps Real Madrid crush Ajax

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo added two more goals to his spectacular recent haul to help Real Madrid to a crushing 4-0 win at Ajax Amsterdam on Tuesday and secure top spot in Champions League Group G for the La Liga giants.

The prolific Portuguese took his tally to 17 in 12 matches in all competitions since the start of October, netting a low drive and a penalty after goals before the break from France striker Karim Benzema and Spain defender Alvaro Arbeloa.

Real had already qualified for the last 16 of Europe's elite club competition but their latest success leaves group rivals AC Milan five points behind in second place with only one match left. The Italians' 2-0 win in Auxerre means both Ajax and the French club have no chance of making the knockout stage.

Nine-times winners Real, meanwhile, are hoping new coach Jose Mourinho will lead them beyond the last 16 for the first time since 2004 and by topping the group should avoid the strongest teams in the draw in Nyon on December 17.

The Portuguese was unhappy with the referee, who showed Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos second yellow cards for time wasting late on, dismissals that will mean the pair are suspended for the final group game at home to Auxerre on December 8.

"The Auxerre match is not important but I still don't like it," Mourinho said. "The match was already dead and when it's three or four-nil there is no point in showing those cards."

BRIGHTER START

With victory crucial for the home side, Ajax coach Martin Jol had fielded an attack-minded starting 11 at the Amsterdam arena with striker Luis Suarez leading a three-man forward line.

The boisterous Ajax fans did their best to warm up a chilly stadium in the Dutch capital and inspire their players but the four-times European champions never looked like pulling it off and crashed to their biggest home defeat in Europe.

Despite missing injured regulars Gonzalo Higuain, Sami Khedira and Ricardo Carvalho, it was the visitors who enjoyed the brighter start, with Ronaldo, Benzema, Mesut Ozil and Pedro Leon causing problems for the Ajax defence.

Benzema forced a smart save from Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg with a powerful drive from a tight angle in the 19th minute and Ronaldo was furious when his penalty claim was ignored moments later.

Real were ahead in the 36th minute when Benzema finished superbly from the edge of the penalty area after Ozil's clever flick before Arbeloa bagged a rare goal with a speculative long-range effort in the 44th.

Stekelenburg turned a Ronaldo effort on to the crossbar two minutes after the break but was beaten by the Portuguese in the 70th and again in the 81st after Ozil was fouled by Urby Emanuelson in the penalty area.

The match ended on a bizarre note for the visitors when Alonso and Ramos were sent off, prompting speculation in the Spanish media that Mourinho had ordered them to provoke the cards so they will have one yellow to carry through to the knockout stage instead of two.

"There is no use talking about the cards we received in the final phase," Mourinho told a news conference.

"It would give you a fine story but I only want to talk about this 4-0 win, which is a fantastic result."

Ajax, who won the last of their four European titles in 1995, hardly threatened Iker Casillas's goal and had only one shot on target to Real's 10.

"We managed to come first in a very tough group," Casillas told Spanish TV. "Little by little we are making a better impression in Europe and things are looking good for the next phase."

Real Madrid 5-1 Athletic Bilbao: Cristiano Ronaldo Bags A Hat-Trick As Los Leones Are Humbled

The Portuguese ace was unstoppable...

Real Madrid reclaimed top spot in the Liga BBVA standings Saturday night as they picked up a hard-earned win against a spirited Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabeu.

Los Blancos stormed into the lead through Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo in the first half-an-hour and Fernando Llorente clawed one back for the visitors before the break.

Bilbao fought vailiantly, but ultimately fell victims to a well-taken penalty by Sergio Ramos, a free-kick and spot-kick from Ronaldo in the second half as Jose Mourinho's men bagged the three points.

The visitors made a very good start to the game with Llorente actively involved in every attack. The Spanish international saw an effort cleared off the line only three minute into the game after a blistering run on the right side of the box.

It took some time, but Real Madrid started to grow into the game and were looking threatening in the final third. The go-ahead goal came in the 19th minute when Higuain slotted home with a fine finish, following some good work by Angel Di Maria.

Athletic tried to put Los Blancos under pressure with Llorente forcing Iker Casillas into a fine save in the 29th minute. Los Leones ultimately paid the price for their somewhat overly attacking approach moments later when Ronaldo doubled the hosts' lead after an excellent counter-attack.

In the 40th minute Llorente managed to halve Los Leones' deficit with a goal from point-blank range after a collective mistake by the home defence. Real Madrid entered half-time with a tender lead as the match was far from over.

The game's tempo somewhat dropped after the restart as both teams seemed unwilling to take any risks. Still, the Madrid were more comfortable on the ball and were superbly retaining possession in the early minutes of the game.

Ramos put the game to bed for the Los Blancos in the 57th minute from the spot after an arguably soft penalty for a foul on Di Maria by Markel Susaeta. Athletic started pumping bodies forward, but were unable to break Real Madrid's resilient defence.

Ronaldo put the icing on the cake with an audacious free-kick in the 62nd minute to complete his brace. The visitors had not given up yet as they tried to get back into the contest and nearly scored in the 85th minute when a Javi Martinez' shot rebounded off the bar.

In the 88th minute substitute Karim Benzema had the ball in the net, but it was ruled out for offside. Ronaldo, however, had more for Los Leones as he completed his hat-trick from the spot after a foul on substitute Esteban Granero in injury time.

Cristiano Ronaldo hints at return to Manchester United

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted he misses English football and said he will not rule out returning to former club Manchester United.


The Portuguese international joined Real Madrid from United in a world-record £80million move in 2008 after one of the most protracted transfer sagas in football history.

But despite creating bad blood between Old Trafford supremo Sir Alex Ferguson and his counterparts in the Spanish capital, the fiasco of Ronaldo's departure from England has not put him off a possible return.

MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo's cheeky 'back-pass' v Atletico Madrid

And the powerful winger has set tongues a-wagging in the north-west by refusing to rule out what would be a sensational return to the Premier League.

He said: ‘To be honest I miss the Premier League a lot.

'Of course I have good memories about Manchester. I have good friends there and I miss them a lot, so you never know.'

Several months after joining Madrid, Ronaldo admitted he was still in contact with former boss Ferguson.

And the close relationship between the two men could pave a way for a return to Old Trafford - especially given the Red Devils' hierarchy's recent loosening of the purse strings through Wayne Rooney's new mega-money contract.

Ronaldo described Ferguson as 'like a second father' - prompting rumours the Scot may not be averse to paying out in order to reunite the former Sporting Lisbon star with Rooney in what was United's most potent attack since the 'Holy Trinity' of Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid Should Think Positive Ahead Of Atletico Madrid Meeting

Though Cristiano Ronaldo believes that Real Madrid should have defeated Milan in midweek, he is urging his team-mates to continue thinking positively ahead of the weekend derby clash with Atletico Madrid.

‘CR7’ has been on red-hot form in La Primera Division in recent weeks and will hope to keep it up against los Colchoneros, though he can’t help feeling that better could have been achieved in the most recent Champions League encounter.

“The truth is that we could have earned a victory for what happened in 90 minutes,” he told Marca TV. “We could have won, but should have no regrets. Now we have to think positive. We have to take the positives because to win a point was also good.”

Ronaldo spoke of compatriot Jose Mourinho, who arrived at the Bernabeu in the summer, in high terms. “The coach is very good and has brought his experience to Real Madrid. I am sure that with ‘Mou’, we have more chances to win,” he confidently stated. “Of course the objective is the champions. A player of Real Madrid has to think of all that is possible.”

Looking to Sunday’s clash, the Portuguese said: “A derby is more than a game. We know it's a difficult game, hard, against a good team, but we play at home and it’s a must-win for Atletico.”

With 11 goals this season, the world’s most expensive player leads the way in the Pichichi standings and will hope to extend his advantage over Lionel Messi and the remainder of the pack over the coming weekend.

Ronaldo targets titles Ex-United star wants to win trophies with Spanish giants

Cristiano Ronaldo believes he can emulate the success he achieved at Manchester United with Real Madrid.

The Portugal international has had an explosive impact since joining Real in 2009 and has scored nine goals in just four Primera Liga matches since the October international break.

The 25-year-old scored 84 goals in 196 appearances during his time at Old Trafford, winning three Premier League titles under manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Now, Ronaldo is confident that he can win the same number of honours at Los Blancos telling Brazilian television station Globo: "I want to win the same number of titles in Madrid as I did during my time at Manchester United.

"This is my challenge. I feel good and confident, I am in a good moment and I want to stay that way.

"The goal is always the same - to win.

"We have a very good team and I am sure that if we work hard and have a little luck that we will win titles."

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo upbeat ahead of AC Milan test

Cristiano Ronaldo goes into Real Madrid’s Champions League tie at AC Milan on Wednesday warning the Italians that he is in “phenomenal shape” as well as the richest vein of scoring form of his career.


La Liga’s top scorer hit another double in Real’s 3-1 win at Hercules to take his tally to 10 goals in four league outings in October.

Ronaldo netted 13 times in nine matches in all competitions last month, including two for Portugal in Euro 2012 qualification, to better his nine in six games for Manchester United in January 2008.


“I am in phenomenal shape and on a great run of form,” Ronaldo said. “I have been feeling good for a number of matches now.”

Ronaldo also praised coach Jose Mourinho for his part in Real turning round a 1-0 interval deficit to beat Hercules on Saturday.

“At half-time he gave the perfect orders to change the team,” Ronaldo said. “In the second half we did everything perfectly.”

Real, who have gone two years without winning any major silverware, are unbeaten after nine matches and lead the table by a point from Barcelona.

In Italy, Antonio Cassano, who had appeared to have outgrown his bad-boy image, is battling to save his career with Sampdoria, who have asked for permission to terminate the striker’s contract after he swore at club president Riccardo Garrone last week. “I’m sorry for what happened and I’ve already apologised to Mr Garrone. As long as there is a possibility, I want to stay at Sampdoria,” said Cassano, who missed yesterday’s 1-0 win at Cesena.

Ahead of next weekend’s Rome derby, Lazio moved four points clear in Serie A following a backs-to-the-wall 1-0 win at Palermo.

Borussia Dortmund equalled a club record with their fifth successive away win as they went to the top in Germany after winning 2-0 at previous leaders Mainz.