Real Madrid cruises past Copenhagen

Real Madrid cruises past Copenhagen

Published Oct. 2, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

Cristiano Ronaldo continued his sparkling form in the Champions League with two goals in a 4-0 victory for Real Madrid against Copenhagen on Wednesday.

Ronaldo scored with two headers, first meeting Marcelo's long cross in the 24th minute and then capping a creative buildup in the 65th.

He scored a hat trick in Madrid's opening 6-1 win over Galatasaray two weeks ago.

Angel Di Maria made up for several first-half misses against Copenhagen by scoring Madrid's third goal, in the 71st minute, before scoring again in stoppage time.

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Madrid, under pressure following a poor domestic run and without the injured Gareth Bale, completely dominated the Danish champions at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and now leads Group B with six points.

Juventus had a 2-2 against Galatasaray in the other group match on Wednesday and is in second spot with two points.

Madrid took the game to their Danish opponents from the start, with Karim Benzema heading wide with only goalkeeper Johan Wiland to beat from inside the box.

But the hosts were rewarded for constant pressure when Marcelo's cross dipped over the outstretched arms of Wiland to find Ronaldo at the far post for the opening goal.

Both Benzema and Di Maria had glaring misses in the first half as Di Maria's pace and verve opened up space in the attack.

Copenhagen needed 28 minutes to test Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who played his first full game of the season after injuring his hand in the win over Galatasaray.

Rurik Gislason headed a 40th-minute corner past Casillas but Luka Modric cleared it off the line - not before Copenhagen coach Stale Solbakken did cartwheel along the sidelines thinking his side's best opportunity of the period had gone in.

Benzema's deft backheel pass found Di Maria's run into the box, leading to a short cross that Ronaldo headed home for his 55th goal in the competition.

Copenhagen had held Juventus to a home draw in the last round but was outplayed in the Spanish capital and had little chance of a comeback after Di Maria cut inside to unleash a left-foot shot beyond the diving Wiland.

The Argentina forward found similar space in added time when Casillas made a pair of saves to preserve the final scoreline.

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