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MADRID

‘Ronaldo out of this world’: Ancelotti

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti described Cristiano Ronaldo as an out of this world talent after the Portuguese scored his third hat-trick of the season in Saturday's 5-1 win over Real Sociedad.

'Ronaldo out of this world': Ancelotti
Photo: Dani Pozo/AFP

Ronaldo's treble took his tally to 24 goals in just 17 games this season as Real moved to within three points of La Liga leaders Barcelona with the Catalans not in action until Sunday.

"He has a level from another world. He scores with an incredible ease and it is difficult to find words for him," said Ancelotti.

Ronaldo fired the hosts into the lead from Karim Benzema's pass before roles were reversed as the Portuguese squared for the Frenchman to slot home.

The former Manchester United man then dispatched a penalty past Claudio Bravo for his second of the afternoon before Gareth Bale provided his fifth assist in four games for Sami Khedira to smash home a fourth before half-time.

Antoine Griezmann then reduced the deficit for Sociedad after the break, but Ronaldo had the final word as he curled home a wicked free-kick 14 minutes from time to seal his hat-trick.

Ancelotti was delighted with what he saw as arguably the best 45 minutes his side have produced since he took over in July.

"I think that the first-half was perfect. We played very well, with pace, efficiency in front of goal, sometimes we played long, sometimes short, but it all worked well," said the Italian.

"In the second-half the tempo was slower, but that is normal when you are 4-0 up. We had a few more defensive problems, but overall the defence was also very good."

Victory was Madrid's third in four games since Xabi Alonso returned from injury and Ancelotti was also keen to laud the contribution of the Spanish international to the overall balance of the side alongside Luka Modric and Khedira in midfield.

"All three central midfielders played very well today. They complement each other and helped the team."

"I have said many times that Alonso has the experience and the quality to make us play how we want. It is obvious that he is a very, very important player."

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OFFBEAT

Madrid police end escaped camels’ night on the town

Eight camels and a llama took to the streets of Madrid overnight after escaping from a nearby circus, Spanish police said on Friday.

A camel in a zoo
A file photo of a camel in a zoo. Photo: ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP

It was not immediately clear how the long-legged runaways managed to get out but Quiros Circus, which owns them, blamed sabotage by animal rights activists.

They were spotted at around 5:00 am wandering around the southern district of Carabranchel close to where the circus is currently based.

“Various camels and a llama escaped from a circus in Madrid overnight,” Spain’s national police wrote on Twitter, sharing images of eight two-humped camels and a llama hanging around a street corner.

“Police found them and took care of them so they could be taken back safe and sound,” they tweeted.

There was no word on whether the rogue revellers, who are known for spitting, put up any resistance when the police moved in to detain them.

Mati Munoz, one of the circus’ managers, expressed relief the furry fugitives — Bactrian camels who have two humps and thick shaggy coats – had been safely caught.

“Nothing happened, thank God,” he told AFP, saying the circus had filed a complaint after discovering the electric fence around the animals’ enclosure had been cut.

“We think (their escape) was due to an act of sabotage by animal rights groups who protest every year.”

Bactrian camels (camelus bactrianus) come from the rocky deserts of central and eastern Asia and have an extraordinary ability to survive in extreme conditions.

These days, the vast majority of them are domesticated.

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