Real Madrid 5 – Real Sociedad 2: Ronaldo hat-trick eases pressure on Zidane in La Liga win

CRISTIANO RONALDO'S hat-trick helped ease the pressure on Zinedine Zidane as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 5-2 at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid went into the game in sore need of a boost with their La Liga campaign going from bad to worse.

But Ronaldo scored a hat-trick to help ensure they secure a return to winning ways.

Real took the lead through Lucas Vazquez within the first minute, with the Spaniard heading home from Ronaldo's cross.

Madrid have been accused of starting too slow in many of their league games so far this season.

But they were four goals to the good with just 40 minutes on the clock.

Ronaldo grabbed his first of the game, striking home from Marcelo's pass.

Toni Kroos curled home a third with an outstanding finish with Ronaldo finding the net again in the 37th minute.

Real Madrid took their foot off the gas in the second half.

Sociedad pulled one back through Jon Bautista but Ronaldo got his hat-trick with ten minutes to spare, tapping home after Gareth Bale's shot was spilled.

Sociedad grabbed another late consolation through Asier Illarramendi, who found the net against his old club.

But the day belonged to Real, who will now have renewed hope of securing Champions League football for next season.

Real are next in action against PSG on Wednesday.

And Zidane will know that the Champions League represents his only chance of staying in the job.

Source: www.express.co.uk