Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti hailed four-goal Cristiano Ronaldo after their 5-1 defeat of Elche. Only three days after netting his 24th hat-trick for the club in their 8-2 victory over Deportivo La Coruna, Ronaldo went one better at the Bernabeu.

Ancelotti said: "He doesn't like playing with his back to goal, he wants to look for spaces on the wing to be facing goal. The movements he makes are very quick and that's why they come as a surprise. He is always in just the right position because he has a unique gift for movement.

"He needed a period of time in which to work; he has done that with the discipline and professionalism that he has. He's in very good physical shape, he's motivated and he's scoring a lot of goals."