Ronaldo lays down eight-goal challenge to Barcelona

MADRID - Cristiano Ronaldo challenged Barcelona to try and score eight goals past his Real Madrid side when asked for his views on the champion's earlier 8-0 thrashing of Almeria in La Liga on Saturday.

The Portugal forward scored a hat-trick in his side's 5-1 hammering of Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabeu, taking his tally for the season to 14, one ahead of Lionel Messi in the La Liga goalscoring charts.

The Argentine World Player of the Year had netted a hat-trick in Barca's romp over struggling Almeria, but Ronaldo was less than impressed with its efforts when questioned by Spanish television pitchside at the Bernabeu.

"(The 8-0 win) doesn't tell me anything," Ronaldo said. "Let's see if they score eight against us on Monday."

"I'm pleased to have scored, but the most important thing is that the team won. I'm fighting to win the league. The top scorer's award isn't important to me."

Unbeaten Real Madrid travels to face second-place Barcelona on Nov 29 with a one-point advantage over the champion.

Barca's victory over Almeria equaled its record away win achieved in 1959, when it won by the same scoreline in Las Palmas, but its coach Pep Guardiola refused to read too much into it with Madrid its next opponent in the league.

"We didn't look to send a warning out to anyone here today," Guardiola told reporters.

"We played to a great level as we have in other games. In the first half (when they scored five) we had the same number of occasions as in other games, and today we put them away."

The victory led to the swift sacking of Almeria coach Juan Manuel Lillo, a good friend of Guardiola's.

"It has been an uncomfortable situation for him and me," Guadiola added.

"I have known him for many years. He's a fantastic person and a great coach. We've just beaten the side with the third-best defensive record in the league."

Messi scored a hat-trick for Barca, taking his tally for the season to 13, while substitute Bojan Krkic scored twice, Andres Iniesta and Pedro bagged one apiece and Santiago Acasiete netted an own-goal.

"Every time we got to goal we scored, unlike some other days," Guardiola said. "It's hard to say much after such a result. I just want to congratulate the team because they were so effective."

With nine days to go until unbeaten Real visits the Nou Camp, the Madrid side has 32 points from 12 matches.

Barca has 31 points and has opened up a seven-point lead over third-place Villarreal, which drew 1-1 at home with local rival Valencia, which is fourth with 21.

Reuters / AP

(China Daily 11/22/2010 page11)