<p>Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a hat-trick and Gareth Bale became the fifth British player to score for Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in La Liga when he struck twice in an action-packed 7-3 win over Sevilla on Wednesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Making his first home start for the Spanish club, Bale also conjured two assists in a performance that will help dispel doubts about the 100 million euro ($138 million) winger's form and fitness since his record move from Tottenham Hotspur.<br /><br />France striker Karim Benzema, who has been struggling to find the net for both club and country, also helped himself to two goals as third-placed Real closed to within two points of Atletico Madrid ahead of their game at Granada on Thursday.<br /><br />Carlo Ancelotti's team looked far from convincing at times and let Sevilla back into the match after taking an early 3-0 lead but what eventually became a rout was a welcome boost after Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Barcelona.<br /><br />Sevilla played the final quarter of an hour with 10 men after midfielder Stephane M'Bia was shown a second yellow card for catching substitute Luka Modric with a flailing arm and it was the first time in almost 50 years that 10 goals were scored in a La Liga match at the Bernabeu.<br /><br />The 24-year-old fired Real ahead in the 13th minute when he picked up a Benzema pass in the area and lashed the ball superbly into the top corner.<br /><br />By scoring at Real's giant arena, the Welshman was following in the footsteps of British compatriots Laurie Cunningham, Steve McManaman, David Beckham and Michael Owen.<br />Bale's second came in the 27th when his free kick ricocheted off Sevilla fullback Alberto Moreno and bounced into the net past wrongfooted goalkeeper Beto.<br /><br />Real were apparently flying when Isco won a penalty converted by Ronaldo five minutes later and then celebrated the goal by saluting at team-mate Marcelo who reciprocated. The salute may have been a pointed reference towards FIFA President Sepp Blatter who had likened Ronaldo’s footballing style to a ‘commander on the field of play’. <br /><br />Ivan Rakitic struck from the penalty spot in the 38th and Carlos Bacca finished off a sweeping move two minutes later to make it 3-2 at the break. The second half was equally eventful, with Bale setting up first Benzema and then Ronaldo before Rakitic curled a superb shot into the top corner for 5-3.<br /><br />In a frantic 10 minutes, Ronaldo completed his 18th La Liga hat-trick with a deflected shot. Benzema netted the final goal of the night 10 minutes from time when he headed home a Marcelo cross from the left.<br /></p>
<p>Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a hat-trick and Gareth Bale became the fifth British player to score for Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in La Liga when he struck twice in an action-packed 7-3 win over Sevilla on Wednesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Making his first home start for the Spanish club, Bale also conjured two assists in a performance that will help dispel doubts about the 100 million euro ($138 million) winger's form and fitness since his record move from Tottenham Hotspur.<br /><br />France striker Karim Benzema, who has been struggling to find the net for both club and country, also helped himself to two goals as third-placed Real closed to within two points of Atletico Madrid ahead of their game at Granada on Thursday.<br /><br />Carlo Ancelotti's team looked far from convincing at times and let Sevilla back into the match after taking an early 3-0 lead but what eventually became a rout was a welcome boost after Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Barcelona.<br /><br />Sevilla played the final quarter of an hour with 10 men after midfielder Stephane M'Bia was shown a second yellow card for catching substitute Luka Modric with a flailing arm and it was the first time in almost 50 years that 10 goals were scored in a La Liga match at the Bernabeu.<br /><br />The 24-year-old fired Real ahead in the 13th minute when he picked up a Benzema pass in the area and lashed the ball superbly into the top corner.<br /><br />By scoring at Real's giant arena, the Welshman was following in the footsteps of British compatriots Laurie Cunningham, Steve McManaman, David Beckham and Michael Owen.<br />Bale's second came in the 27th when his free kick ricocheted off Sevilla fullback Alberto Moreno and bounced into the net past wrongfooted goalkeeper Beto.<br /><br />Real were apparently flying when Isco won a penalty converted by Ronaldo five minutes later and then celebrated the goal by saluting at team-mate Marcelo who reciprocated. The salute may have been a pointed reference towards FIFA President Sepp Blatter who had likened Ronaldo’s footballing style to a ‘commander on the field of play’. <br /><br />Ivan Rakitic struck from the penalty spot in the 38th and Carlos Bacca finished off a sweeping move two minutes later to make it 3-2 at the break. The second half was equally eventful, with Bale setting up first Benzema and then Ronaldo before Rakitic curled a superb shot into the top corner for 5-3.<br /><br />In a frantic 10 minutes, Ronaldo completed his 18th La Liga hat-trick with a deflected shot. Benzema netted the final goal of the night 10 minutes from time when he headed home a Marcelo cross from the left.<br /></p>