Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick downs Getafe

A second-half hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo helped Real Madrid to a 4-0 over Getafe in La Liga this afternoon.

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Coach Jose Mourinho made a host of changes to his starting lineup for the clash, but the team did not gel well in the opening 45 minutes, dominating possession but failing to threaten in front of the visitors' goal.

Getafe created few chances in the opening period, the best falling to Diego Castro, who was unable to get the better of Antonio Adan in the Real goal.

The Spanish champions looked sharper after the break, upping the tempo from the first half and continuing to maintain the majority of the possession.

The breakthrough came in the 54th minute when Sergio Ramos bundled the ball over the line from close range, just after a Mesut Ozil strike was saved.

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The goal lifted the hosts and they doubled their advantage eight minutes later, as Ozil crosses the ball to Ronaldo, who fired it in for what would be the first of three goals in 10 minutes for the Portuguese forward.

Ronaldo added his second three minutes later with a close-range header and completed his hat-trick with a penalty after Luka Modric was brought down inside the box.

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Getafe had a strong spell towards the end of the game, but they were unable to test Adan and Real soon reclaimed possession.

The win moves Real Madrid to within four points of second-placed Atletico Madrid, while Getafe remain 11th in the La Liga table.