Ronaldo sets new Madrid scoring record

Cristiano Ronaldo set a new goal scoring record for Real Madrid as he became the first player to score in their opening four games for the Spanish giants.

A superb early goal from Ronaldo and a second-half Kaka penalty gave Real a 2-0 win at 10-man Villarreal in La Liga on Wednesday.

Real paid around €160 million for the Portuguese winger and Brazilian playmaker in the close season, including a world record €94 million for Ronaldo, and the gulf in class was evident from the start.

The home side were rocked back in the second minute when Ronaldo sped down the left wing, cut inside and struck with a low shot from just outside the penalty area for his fifth league goal in four matches.

Villarreal defender Gonzalo Rodriguez was sent off 10 minutes before the break, earning a second yellow card for catching Kaka in the chest with a reckless flying kick.

Kaka stepped up to double Real's lead in the 73rd minute when the referee ruled Angel Lopez had handled Marcelo's cross and Gonzalo Higuain and Ronaldo both went close as Real pressed for a third.

Their fourth win out of four put them level on 12 points with champions Barcelona, who thrashed Racing Santander 4-1 on Tuesday thanks to two goals from Lionel Messi and one apiece from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gerard Pique.

Ronaldo scored inside the first minute in Sunday's 5-0 rout of promoted Xerez and he said his early goal on Wednesday had thrown Villarreal off their stride.

He said: 'They are difficult to beat at home but we managed it and after Kaka's goal we were more in control.'