Spanish La Liga
Result: Real Madrid 6-0 Espanyol
Date: 31 January 2016
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a hat-trick, as Real Madrid thumped Espanyol 6-0 in a La Liga clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Los Blancos went ahead after seven minutes, as James Rodriguez made his way down the right flank, before whipping a cross into the box for Karim Benzema, who headed into the bottom corner.
The home side were awarded a penalty in the 12th minute after Ronaldo was brought down in the box. The Portuguese stepped up and converted from 12-yards out, 2-0.
It got better for Real four minutes later, as Rodriguez latched onto a pass from Luka Modric, before firing a deflected effort into the top corner.
Real managed to add a fourth goal on the stroke of halftime, as Ronaldo showed some good skill to beat two defenders, before rifling the ball into the top corner.
Espanyol made a host of changes at the start of the second half, as they looked to keep the score-line low.
Ronaldo nearly added a fifth for Real in the 64th minute, as the Portuguese's dipping free-kick sailed inches over the crossbar.
Keylor Navas was called into action 74th minute, as the Los Blancos shot-stopper came rushing off his line to deny Gonzalez Abraham from point-blank range.
Ronaldo eventually completed his hat-trick in the 82nd minute, as the forward headed home Jese Rodgriguez's cross at the far post, 5-0.
There was still time for Zinedine Zidane's charges to grab a sixth goal in the 86th minute when Oscar Duarte turned Jese's cross into the back of his own net.
