Drogba to leave ChelseaLONDON: Newly-crowned European champions Chelsea confirmed on Tuesday that Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of June. Drogba has been at the London ... Read more Tuesday, 22 May 2012 7:21PM |
MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo hit his sixth hat-trick of the season as Real Madrid took a huge step towards winning La Liga on Sunday, coming from behind to beat Levante 4-2 and open a 10-point lead over Barcelona.
Reigning champions Barcelona had crashed 3-2 to Osasuna on Saturday.
After Gustavo Cabral gave Levante a surprise early lead, Ronaldo got his first from the penalty spot a minute before the break following a handball by Vicente Iborra, who was also dismissed for his second yellow card.
Real out came out confidently for the second half and Ronaldo headed home a Gonzalo Higuain cross after 49 minutes and then completed his hat-trick with a wonderful 30-yard strike which flew into the roof of the net.
An Arouna Kone header briefly gave a glimmer of hope for Levante but Karim Benzema slotted in a fourth for Real after 65 minutes.