FOOTBALL – ATLETICO Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth scored four goals inside 30 minutes, including the fastest hat-trick in LaLiga history, in a 4-0 home win over Real Sociedad last night.
The Norwegian forward completed his treble in the opening 11 minutes, the earliest ever in the competition, before adding a fourth goal to seal the rout on the half-hour.
Atletico, who are out of the title race, sit third on 70 points, nine adrift of leaders Barcelona and five behind Real Madrid who face off in a potential title decider today.
Real Sociedad are 12th with 43 points.
Sorloth got going when he volleyed in a cross from Pablo Barrios. He made it two with an angled shot just inside the far post, and Sociedad were left groggy when Jon Martín’s clearance hit teammate Aritz Elustondo and fell for Sorloth to smash home.
Sorloth waited until the half-hour mark before he used one touch to control a pass by Samuel Lino before beating goalkeeper Alex Remiro to make it four goals.
Meanwhile, today’s ‘El Clasico’ will go a long way to deciding the destination of LaLiga and Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid side will need to play a complete game to defeat Barcelona, the Italian said yesterday.
Real have a four-point gap to make up with four games remaining if they are to retain the title and for Ancelotti they will need to get everything right to have a chance today.
“In this type of game you have to do things well. Barcelona are used to keeping the opponent in their own area, but no team is perfect,” he said.
“It’s a game where there’s a lot at stake and to win you have to manage everything well, defend well, attack well. We have to play a complete game.”
With so much at stake against their great rivals, Ancelotti will have little trouble getting his players fired up.
“It’s not difficult to motivate the players because it’s the type of match for which the players already come out motivated and with a lot of confidence,” he said.
“Playing with Barcelona is special. It will be the last ‘El Clasico’ of the season because Barca are not in the Club World Cup.
The speculation surrounding Ancelotti’s future has only increased with the news that former Real player Xabi Alonso will leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season but, whatever happens, Real Madrid will remain dear to the Italian.
“What happens around us has not affected us at all,” he said before adding: “With this club the honeymoon does not end.
“Real Madrid and AC Milan before it are clubs that stay in my heart because of the time I’ve been here and because of the relationships. The honeymoon with Madrid is going to be until the last day of my life.
“I have read that he (Alonso) is leaving Bayer Leverkusen. He has done an incredible job and has the doors open because he has proven to be one of the best in the world.”
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