Madrid, Oct 07: Ronaldo took less than a minute to score on his Real Madrid debut and added a second goal as the European champions ran out 5-2 winners against visitors Alaves on Sunday.


The Brazilian World Cup winner made his first appearance since signing from Inter Milan when he came on as a substitute in the 64th minute, with an almost-capacity 71,000 supporters raising the roof of the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Fifty seconds later Ronaldo put his new club 3-1 up against the Basques.

His fellow Brazilian Roberto Carlos darted down the left wing and Ronaldo evaded two Alaves defenders in the box, trapped the ball on his chest and slotted it into the net.


"I didn`t think I was going to start like that," admitted Ronaldo.


Real drew first blood less than two minutes after the kick off when Zinedine Zidane - still the world`s most expensive signing despite Ronaldo`s 45-million-euro transfer - produced a brilliant bit of individual wizardry before scoring from the left hand corner of the box. Two goals from Luis Figo completed Real`s thrashing of the Basques although Mago Mocelin and Ivan Alonso got goals for Alaves when Real let their guard down.


Real Madrid have an unbeaten record and lie fourth with 10 points from their four games but have a game in hand over their rivals after the match at Real Betis last month was abandoned due to floodlight failure.


However, the remaining 47 minutes of that match will be played on Tuesday with Betis starting 1-0 ahead from the original encounter.


Celta Vigo take over the leaders of the Spanish first division, and also reamin unbeaten with 13 points from five games, after they grabbed a 1-0 victory at Valencia a minute into injury time thanks to a Vagner penalty.


The Galicians` Argentine goalkeeper Pablo Cavallero was the real hero for Celta, saving two penalties from Valencia`s Ruben Baraja earlier in the game.
Bureau Report