Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first as Real Madrid stormed to a easy victory against Almeria but had to come off in the second half due to a hamstring injury.

The official line was that the substitution was made as a precaution, but it will no doubt worry Madrid fans ahead of their Champions League math with Galatasaray on Wednesday.

After the game, Carlo Ancelotti said: ‘Cristiano has a problem with the hamstring but it appears to be a just a strain; nothing serious.’ Almeria made the goals smaller ahead of their meeting but it didn’t stop Ronaldo and Gareth Bale both scoring.

They had to dismantle their goals before the start because they were six centimetres higher than league regulations allow. A hurried reconstruction took place in both goalmouths at the Mediterranean Games Stadium to ensure the game could kick-off on time and a grateful Ronaldo scored in just two minutes 41 seconds turning in Isco’s cross to make it 67 goals this calendar league.

The goal saw him draw level with Hugo Sanchez on 164 league goals and leave him joint fourth in the all-time club scoring list but it was not all good news for the new Ballon d’Or favourite as he hobbled off with a hamstring problem in the second half. No sooner had Ronaldo disappeared straight down the tunnel on 53 minutes when Gareth Bale had the perfect chance to finish Almeria off but he skied his shot from inside the six-yard box from Dani Carvajal’s cross.

Karim Benzema then made amends when played in by Jese to score his seventh goal of the season and Real Madrid’s second of the night from the edge of the area. Bale then scored the third from Isco’s pass making it another good night for what the Spanish refer to as the BBC – Bale, Benzema and Cristiano. Isco made it four and substitute Alvaro Morata added the fifth.

Bale had almost scored from inside the centre-circle in the first half when Almeria keeper Esteban headed clear under pressure from Ronaldo and the Wales international took the clearance down on his chest and volleyed it over the home-side’s keeper’s head but not under the bar.

Madrid did not have it all their own way. Aleix Vidal and Rodri both had shots saved in the first half and in the second period on-loan Liverpool winger Suso went close. He had overslept in midweek and missed training but was forgiven and allowed to play in Almeria’s biggest game of the season and he went close with a curling shot just past Diego Lopez’ far post.

But Almeria were blown away by the power of Real Madrid’s forward line and ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League group game against Roberto Mancini’s Galatasaray the good news was that Ronaldo’s injury is nothing more than a knock on the hamstring which is unlikely to keep him out of action.

—Daily Mail