European round-up: Ronaldo helps Real to summit

SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to lead Real Madrid to a 5-0 win over La Liga new boys Xerez at the Bernabeu yesterday.

The former Manchester United winger netted the opener inside the first minute with a searing run and shot and Xerez, in their first top-flight campaign, must have feared the worst.

But the floodgates remained stubbornly closed until the last 15 minutes when Ronaldo, Guti, Karim Benzema and Ruud van Nistelrooy netted in quick succession.

Real moved ahead of champions Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao on goal difference at the top of the standings with three wins from three.

Barcelona hammered Atletico Madrid 5-2 on Saturday at Camp Nou – the home side’s goals coming from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi (two), Dani Alves, and Seydou Keita – and Bilbao overcame Villarreal 3-2 at home earlier in the day.

ITALIAN SERIE A: A two-goal blitz from striker Diego Milito gave champions Inter Milan a 2-1 win at Cagliari yesterday while AC Milan struggled to beat Bologna 1-0.

Inter fell behind to Jeda’s first-half penalty but coach Jose Mourinho, who was later sent to the stands for arguing with officials, brought forward Mario Balotelli on at the break to change shape and the move paid dividends.

Inter are third in the table on 10 points.

Leaders Juventus made it four wins from four in Saturdays 2-0 victory over Livorno and Sampdoria joined them at the top after securing maximum points from the first four games of the season for the first time with a 4-1 thrashing of Siena.