Easy win for Real Madrid, but Ronaldo suffers injury

Madrid, Sep 3 (IANS) Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first two goals of the season but had to leave the pitch injured in the second half as his side enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Granada in Primera Liga football match.

The Portuguese striker's goals, one in each half, put Madrid on the way to their first league win of the season Sunday against a rival who posed very few problems throughout the game, reports Xinhua.

Jose Mourinho produced three surprises in his starting 11 with Luka Modric starting ahead of Mesut Ozil, while Karim Benzema was favored in front of Gonzalo Higuain and Javier Callejon was in the side Angel De Maria, while Marcelo was in for the suspended Fabio Coentrao.

Madrid controlled the ball from the start and Callejon had the first chance of the game only to shoot at Grenada keeper, Tono.

Ronaldo opened the scoring with a dose of fortune after 25 minutes after his driven shot from a tight angle hit a defender to leave Tono stranded.

Benzema went close as Madrid continued to dominate a visiting side that was struggling to combine between defense and midfield and losing the ball with excessive speed.

The first half was one way traffic and easily the most comfortable Madrid have enjoyed at this start to the season, although Granada did have one half chance when Youssef Al Arabi headed a cross from the left wide of the goal defended by Iker Casillas.

Mourinho replaced Callejon with De Maria at halftime, but it was Granada who had the first chance as Casillas had to punch clear an inswinging corner.

De Maria soon repaid Mourinho with a defense-splitting pass to allow Ronaldo to score his second as he opened up the Granada defense. Tono saved Ronaldo's first effort, but the striker was able to side-foot home the rebound ten minutes .

That was the sign for Mourinho to introduce Ozil for Modric and the game was over as a contest shortly afterwards when Borja Gomez was shown a second yellow card and subsequent red for a foul on Ronaldo to leave Granada with 10 men.

Some of the shine was taken off Madrid's win after 64 minutes when Ronaldo left the pitch clearly in pain and suffering problem in left leg. He was replaced by Gonzalo Higuain, who added Madrid's third goal of the night with 15 minutes remaining.