5 times Cristiano Ronaldo mesmerised with his performance

#2 Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid, La Liga 2011-12

Real Madrid won their last La Liga title in the 2011/12 season under Jose Mourinho, who is currently at the helm of Manchester United’s affairs. Back in those days, Real Madrid were in really imperious form, and scored 121 goals in the league that season, accumulating a total of 100 points.

Atletico were then newly taken over by Diego Simeone, and this was the former Atletico player’s first derby in the dugout. He set his team up to counter fast and bank on Radamel Falcao, Arda Turan and Adrian Lopez’s combination play in attack.

Real took the lead in the 24th minute courtesy a memorable Cristiano Ronaldo free kick, which found its way into Thibaut Courtois’ far post. The 20-year-old Belgian was completely foxed by the ball’s trajectory, and could only watch the ball bulge the net, flat-footed.

Atletico hit back 10 minutes into the second half via Radamel Falcao, who scored a wonderful header past Iker Casillas in the Real Madrid goal. Ronaldo and Real Madrid were in no mood to let the game get out of hand, and Ronaldo’s second strike was a thing of beauty. He took the shot from a position deep on the left wing. It flew over Courtois and then dipped back into the goal at the last possible moment.

He completed his hat-trick with a penalty won by Gonzalo Higuain in the 83rd minute, before turning provider for Jose Callejon in the 88th minute as Real bagged a morale-boosting 4-1 win at their city rivals’ stadium.