Bloodied CR7 helps Madrid to vital win

MADRID (AP):

Real Madrid made their fans happy again with their biggest league win of the season, despite Cristiano Ronaldo being covered in blood.

Ronaldo, who left the game late with a cut to his face, scored twice as Madrid routed Deportivo La Coruna 7-1 in the Spanish league yesterday, ending a three-match winless streak at home and easing the pressure on coach Zinedine Zidane and his players.

Ronaldo had to leave with about five minutes remaining after being hit by the foot of a defender, while scoring the team's sixth goal with a header. He was attended on the field for a while and could not continue as blood spilled over his face.

While walking off the field, with his face still stained by the blood, Ronaldo asked for the doctor's cell phone to take a look at the injury.

Madrid had already made three substitutions, but the much-needed victory was already secured by then.

The fans who had loudly jeered the team in recent matches were cheering on their feet after the final whistle at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The easy win followed a series of poor results that all but ended Madrid's title chances.

Gareth Bale and Nacho Fernandez also scored twice, and Luka Modric added another goal for Madrid as they regained fourth place in the standings, cutting their deficit to Barcelona to a still massive 16 points. With a game in hand, Madrid are five points behind third-place Valencia, and one point in front of fifth-place Villarreal.