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Put away the Champagne, Juve: Ronaldo back to his best with sparkling Sevilla show...

                                                                                                                                                

Perhaps the Champagne should have stayed on ice. As Juventus celebrated their Serie A title with bubbly in the dressing room on Saturday evening after winning the Scudetto at Sampdoria, Cristiano Ronaldo was back to his sparkling best in Seville.

Ronaldo had scored only one goal in his previous five matches, but popped up when it mattered most to end Sevilla's stunning streak at the Sanchez Pizjuan. Unai Emery's superb side had gone unbeaten in 34 matches at home in a run that had stretched over a year in all competitions.

But Cristiano put paid to that with two goals late in the first half (both while Sevilla's Grzegorz Krychowiak was off the pitch receiving treatment for a nasal injury) and a third in the second period to hand Carlo Ancelotti's men a vital victory that saw them come through their toughest test left in La Liga to stay in touch with Barcelona in the title race, while sending a message to the Italian champions as well.

The Portuguese overtook the great Alfredo Di Stefano in Liga goals scored, surpassed Lionel Messi in Primera Division hat-tricks and also took his tally against Sevilla to 21, including 19 in Spain's top flight. These three, however, may turn out to be the most important ones of all.
Earlier on Saturday, Madrid had seen title rivals Barca thrash Cordoba 8-0, also in Andalucia. Luis Enrique's side have lost only once in their last 29 games, but were held to a 2-2 draw at Sevilla last month after going two goals up. Such a scenario, however, was not an option for Madrid.

With Gareth Bale on the bench, Isco and then Chicharito set up Ronaldo for his first two strikes, while the Welshman came on in the second half to provide the third with some super strength and a fine cross that Ronaldo finished off with an impressive looping header.

Sevilla had Madrid on the rack as they reduced the deficit first to 2-1 and then later to 3-2, but Madrid managed to hold on to claim the win and are only two points behind Barca with three games remaining in La Liga, with Luis Enrique's side still to visit Atletico before the end of the season.

"Hope is the last thing you lose," Ancelotti said of his side's hopes of claiming La Liga. "We will have to wait until the end of the season. All we can do is win our next three games."

It is out of their hands but, thanks to Ronaldo, Real are hanging in there in this title race and with Juventus on the horizon in Turin on Tuesday, the Portuguese proved he is in the mood for the most important fixtures of all.

So maybe Juve should put the Champagne away or at least keep it on ice after their Scudetto celebrations - because Cristiano is simply sparkling ahead of Madrid's meeting with the Old Lady on Tuesday.