Ronaldo scored two goals to help Real Madrid to a crushing 6-1 win over Albacete, which saw them moving into second place in the Spanish Primera Liga standings. Zinedine Zidane, Raul, Walter Samuel and Michael Owen also scored in the victory at the Bernabeu Stadium. David Beckham returned to the Real Madrid line-up after over a month on the sidelines recovering from the broken ribs he sustained whilst on international duty. Ronaldo, meanwhile, was preferred to Michael Owen, even though Beckham's England teammate had recently eclipsed the Brazilian with three goals in his last three games. But Ronaldo soon justified his selection when he nodded in at the far post in the second minute after Raul had headed on Zinedine Zidane's corner. An error by Walter Samuel gifted Albacete an equaliser in the 15th minute though. The Argentina defender, returning after a two-game absence with injury, failed to connect in his attempt to clear a pass by striker Antonio Pacheco, allowing Francisco Rodriguez to angle his shot past goalkeeper Iker Casillas. But Zidane restored Madrid's lead in the 29th minute with a fine effort from the edge of the penalty area, which flew just inside goalkeeper Ronald Gaspercic's left hand post. The Frenchman created the third goal three minutes later when he carved his way down Albacete's right wing and delivered a perfect cross for Raul to head home. Samuel atoned for his earlier mistake in the 49th minute when he headed the fourth - his first goal for Madrid since his move from Roma in May - from Beckham's floated free kick. Michael Owen, who had replaced Luis Figo, scored from Ronaldo's pass in the 89th minute - his sixth in eight matches for Real. And then in the dying seconds Ronaldo, who had made a series of explosive bursts in the second half, scored his second of the game to complete Madrid's emphatic win. (AP)
Real Madrid thrash Albacete 6-1
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