Ronaldo dazzles as Real thump City
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Cristiano Ronaldo dazzled as Real Madrid demolished Manchester City 4-1 before a record crowd in the International Champions Cup on Friday. The FIFA Ballon d'Or holder showcased his sublime skills and was among the scorers as Los Merengues ripped apart the 2013/14 Premier League champions with a blistering first-half performance before more than 99,000 fans at Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was the MCG's biggest-ever crowd for a football-only event. The ten-time European champions revelled in the atmosphere, opening up Man City with sublime touches, flicks and clinical finishing for three goals before the break.
"I'm really pleased to see the team play well and win the trophy," said Real coach Rafa Benitez. "It is really good for everyone when you are working so hard, when the players are having double training sessions, and you could see the commitment. It's important to win, and to play well is a positive thing for the future."
Karim Benzema put Real ahead with a spectacular finish in the 21st minute. The France striker hooked in Gareth Bale's cross over his left shoulder, after a fine run down the right wing by Daniel Carvajal.
Ronaldo pounced four minutes later, bringing down Toni Kroos's long pass with a superb first touch before poking home. England goalkeeper Joe Hart was unable to keep the ball from crossing the line, and Ronaldo thrilled the crowd with his trademark goal celebration.
It got worse for City when centre-back Pepe scored Real's third with a thumping header off Isco's corner just minutes before half-time.
Deep in first-half stoppage time City got one goal back through a penalty for a Sergio Ramos hand-ball as he jostled with Raheem Sterling. Yaya Toure slotted home the spot-kick.
Denis Cheryshev made it 4-1 when he stabbed home an Isco cross with 17 minutes left.
City's night was further soured when new signing Fabian Delph injured his left hamstring and was carried off after just 18 minutes.
Benitez made four changes at half-time bringing off Benzema, Luka Modric, Carvajal and Pepe, while Manuel Pellegrini left his City team unchanged.
Ronaldo turned on his party pieces for the appreciative MCG crowd, with his cheeky step-overs and flicks, and was narrowly out when he was released by Gareth Bale only to put an audacious attempt just wide.
Edin Dzeko, the subject of transfer speculation, got his first run of the tournament for City, coming on in the 64th minute as Toure, Ronaldo and Ramos came off at the same time. City's record signing Raheem Sterling had a quiet night and was well contained by Ramos, before he was substituted midway through the second half.
City paid for the absence of key defenders Vincent Kompany, who left the tour early to be with his pregnant wife, and Eliaquim Mangala, who became ill on the morning of the match. In their place Pellegrini used Belgian Jason Denayer and youngster Cameron Humphreys at the heart of the defence.
"We knew before the game that it would be difficult to play against such a team of good attackers, and missing three centre-backs," Pellegrini said. "Mangala was sick this morning and he couldn't play, and after Delph went off injured we had to make some changes, but after that it was more about our weak defence."
Real Madrid now head to China PR, where they will play AC Milan and Inter Milan from 25-30 July.