LONDON, Oct 1: Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick powered Real Madrid to a much-needed victory in La Liga, Inter Milan launched what has been billed an unlikely bid for the Serie A title but Olympique Marseille’s perfect Ligue 1 start came to an end on Sunday.
Real kept on the trail of leaders Barcelona with a 5-1 rout of Deportivo La Coruna and will go into next weekend’s La Liga ‘Clasico’ at Barca eight points behind their great rivals.Jose Mourinho’s side fell behind to a Riki goal against the run of play in the 16th minute but Ronaldo equalised from the penalty spot in the 23rd and netted again just before half-time after Angel Di Maria had extended the lead.
Pepe added a headed goal in the 66th before Ronaldo capped the victory with a spot kick in the 83rd.
The victory continued their revival after a woeful start to their title defence and lifted them to sixth on 10 points from six matches.
“We were a bit asleep at the start but after we fell behind we woke up and played a good match,” Ronaldo told Spanish television.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid won 1-0 at Espanyol thanks to Raul Garcia’s header to rise into second place, two points behind Barca.
In Italy, Inter enjoyed a pulsating 2-1 win over Fiorentina moved them up to third in the table with 12 points, four behind joint-leaders Juventus and Napoli.Argentine striker Diego Milito fired Inter ahead from a penalty harshly awarded for a handball by Gonzalo Rodriguez in the 17th minute and Antonio Cassano slotted in a second just after the half hour before Brazilian midfielder Romulo pulled one back for Fiorentina in the 40th.
“Tonight I saw a great mental approach and plenty of aggression. I think Inter showed tonight we have the makings of a great team,” said Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni.
Earlier, Edinson Cavani converted a penalty for Napoli in the 67th as they recorded a 1-0 win at Sampdoria while fourth-placed Lazio beat Siena 2-1 thanks to first-half goals from Ederson and Cristian Ledesma.
Elsewhere, French leaders Marseille’s run of six wins from six games, came to an emphatic end as mid-table Valenciennes whipped them 4-1.
Gael Danic and Anthony Le Tallec put Valenciennes 2-0 up after 35 minutes, and goalkeeper Steve Mandanda then made a complete mess of an underarm throw five minutes later and the ball landed by Foued Kadir, who fired home to make it 3-0.
Le Tallec scored his second of the game midway through the second half, before Marseille substitute Jordan Ayew pulled a goal back in injury time.
Marseille have 18 points and still enjoy a three-point lead over second-placed Paris St Germain while Olympique Lyon, on 14 points, slipped to third after Bordeaux beat them 2-0.—Agencies