Are there any more superlatives to describe Cristiano Ronaldo?The Portuguese star was in devastating form as he netted a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid.It didn’t take long for Ronaldo to get the ball rolling. He headed home from Casemiro’s cross in the 10th minute after some unusually slack defending from Diego Simeone’s side.Fans had to wait until the 73rd minute for Ronaldo’s second, but it was worth the wait.After some impressive hold-up play from Karim Benzema, the ball bounced perfectly for Cristiano to smash past Jan Oblak on the half-volley.The 32-year-old completed the 47th hat-trick of his career shortly after, retrieving Lucas Vazquez’s pass and tucking the ball away.
Ronaldo's celebration after third goal
Ronaldo made clear his feelings after scoring his third, gesturing to the Real Madrid supporters to applaud him instead of whistling him.
“I repeat once, I just want you not to whistle me,” the forward told MEGA after the win, per the Daily Mail. “I’ll try to give the best as always.”
Arbeloa: CR7 is the best
Alvaro Arbeloa, who had the privilege of playing with Ronaldo at the Bernabeu for seven seasons, made it clear whose side he takes in the Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi debate.
"Bow down to the best player in the world: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro," Arbeloa wrote on Twitter.
Simeone isn't giving up hope
And what next for Atleti, who look set to suffer more heartache at the hands of their rivals for the third time in four years following their defeats to Real in the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals?
Well, Simeone isn’t giving up hope just yet. He reminded his players that anything can happen in football and insisted that Atleti will “give every drop of sweat” in next week’s return leg at the Vicente Calderon.
What Simeone told his players
“I have told them: ‘rest, recover, forget this game. Football is marvellous because anything can happen,’” the Argentine said when asked what he had told his players after the defeat, per the Mail.
“It’s difficult yes, impossible maybe, but it’s football so we will give every drop of sweat to make it happen.
“They were better than us and we congratulate them for that but now we have to think about the next game.
“We have a game on Saturday and then we have something that appears impossible but we are Atletico Madrid so maybe, just maybe we are capable of doing it.”
