Real Madrid Football Club

• Nickname:Los Merengues
• Founded:1902
• Manager:Jose Mourinho

• Ground:Santiago Bernabéu,
• Capacity:80354

Pellegrini leads Ronaldo tributes

06 May 2010 - 09:13:41

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Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini hailed the continued brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo after his hat-trick in Wednesday's 4-1 victory over Real Mallorca kept them in the race for the La Liga title.

Real were trailing 1-0 at Son Moix before the Portugal star helped himself to three more goals in a stunning first season in Spanish football.

Gonzalo Higuain rounded off the scoring late in the game as Real moved back to within one point of leaders Barcelona with just two games remaining in the season.

"Cristiano is a major figure in this Real Madrid side and we spent two months without him (through injury)," explained Pellegrini.

"Nevertheless, we made a team and without him the other players still won games.

"I would have liked to have seen Barcelona go two months without (Lionel) Messi."