Ronaldo sulks as Real lose points

Madrid, September 25 

A substituted Cristiano Ronaldo cut a disconsolate figure as Real Madrid conceded a late equaliser to draw 2-2 at Las Palmas. Barcelona shrugged off the absence of the injured Lionel Messi to move to within a point of Madrid at the top of the table as Luis Suarez and Neymar were on target in a 5-0 thrashing of Sporting Gijon.

Ronaldo was replaced moments after helping Madrid go 2-1 in front when Karim Benzema slotted home the rebound after the Portuguese’s initial effort was saved. However, he watched on as Sergio Araujo took advantage of some soft Madrid defending to level as the European champions dropped points for the second time in four days.

Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane insisted that, despite a sub-par display, Ronaldo had been replaced to keep him fresh for Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Borussia Dortmund.

“We have another game on Tuesday and he has to rest too now and again,” Zidane said. “It is obvious he always wants to stay on the field, but I have to think about my players and particularly Cristiano. I have to take him off sometimes and tonight we did it.”

Stung by a poor first-half performance in a 1-1 draw with Villarreal in midweek that snapped a 16-game La Liga winning streak, Madrid pressed high from the off and had 17 shots in a wide open first 45 minutes.

Real made the breakthrough just after the half-hour mark through Marco Asensio. The lead lasted just five minutes, though, as Raphael Varane’s poor defensive header fell at the feet of Tana, who slotted past the helpless Kiko Casilla. 

Ronaldo was then replaced by Lucas Vazquez, but didn’t acknowledge Zidane as he sulked off the field.

Ronaldo has now completed the 90 minutes just once in Madrid’s six La Liga games so far this season. And Ronaldo’s mood worsened when Araujo bundled his way past Casilla and Sergio Ramos to slot home the equaliser five minutes from time.

Suarez magic

Earlier, Barca overcame a difficult opening half hour to hit five past 10-man Sporting.

One moment of Suarez magic turned the game in Barca’s favour as he raced onto Arda Turan’s through ball and flicked the ball past the onrushing Ivan Cuellar before slotting into an empty net. — AFP