Ronaldo's 3 goals gives Madrid win over Villarreal

MADRID (AP) - Cristiano Ronaldo hit a hat trick and Kaka scored his first goal since April as Real Madrid twice came from behind to win 4-2 against Villarreal on Sunday, keeping the team within two points of Spanish league leader Barcelona.

The Portugal forward made it 1-1 by side-footing home Mesut Oezil's pass in the ninth minute, two minutes after Villarreal midfielder Cani had flicked the ball over goalkeeper Iker Casillas to open the scoring.

Villarreal's slick passing game troubled Madrid, and Bruno Soriano's exquisite 18th-minute pass put Ruben Castro through alone on goal to lob Casillas for a 2-1 lead.

However, Ronaldo headed in Xabi Alonso's swerving free kick inside the crowded Villarreal area just before the break to equalize.

Ronaldo scrambled to recover a loose ball in the 79th right after blowing an excellent chance in front of goal. He then swiveled before tucking a low shot past goalkeeper Diego Lopez inside the near post for a league-leading 22nd goal.

Kaka back in Real Madrid squad

MADRID (AP): Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has included Kaka in his squad for the first time this season, selecting the Brazil playmaker in his squad for the Spanish league derby against Getafe.

Kaka has not played for the Spanish club since undergoing surgery on his left knee on Aug. 5.

Mourinho says that Kaka "is not close" to starting but "he can give us 15 to 20 super-quality minutes."

Kaka wrote on Twitter that he was very happy that "after a long time, I am back with my teammates for tomorrow's game."

Mourinho also says that injured striker Gonzalo Higuain will have to undergo surgery. Higuain has been out for the past month with a back injury.

"We missed Kaka and we built a team without him," Mourinho says. "Now Higuain won't be here and we will have to build a team without him."

Mourinho said his squad will remain the same, with no players leaving or joining during the January transfer period.

"The information I have is that we will continue with the same 25 players, which will now be 24 with (the loss) of Higuain," he said.

Murcia holds Madrid to 0-0 draw in Copa del Rey

Third-tier Murcia held Spanish leader Real Madrid to an embarrassing 0-0 draw Tuesday as topflight clubs entered the fourth round of the Copa del Rey.

Murcia goalkeeper Dani Hernandez made second-half saves to deny Cristiano Ronaldo, Pedro Leon and substitute Angel Di Maria to keep Madrid from taking the lead in the first leg match.

Madrid controlled the game at the Nueva Condomina stadium as it was determined not to repeat last year's 4-0 first leg defeat to minnow Alcorcon at the same stage. Third-tier clubs have eliminated Madrid in the fourth round the past two seasons.

Madrid, a 17-time winner of the domestic cup competition, hasn't won it since 1993. Record 25-time champion Barcelona played at Ceuta later.

Murcia is coached by the same Inaki Alonso who guided lower-tier Real Union to a win over Madrid two seasons ago. Alonso's team had no real scoring opportunities but held firm in defense as Madrid controlled possession and the chances, starting Ronaldo's testing shot in the seventh minute.

Madrid coach Jose Mourinho played regulars Ronaldo and Iker Casillas, and welcomed back Sergio Ramos from injury. The Portuguese coach was clear he expected performances from his team's fringe players and they responded with some good efforts early on as Sergio Canales shot over in the 10th minute and Esteban Granero hit the crossbar in the 30th.

Raul Albiol - playing for the first time this season after injury - volleyed a clear chance over the bar at the end of the first half.

Karim Benzema, meanwhile, failed to make an impact. Mourinho had seen enough by the 63rd minute and replaced the France striker with Gonzalo Higuain.

Ronaldo shrugged off the lasers being pointed into his face in the 70th to hit a powerful free kick that Hernandez dived to save. The Murcia 'keeper quickly recovered to deny Pedro Leon - who had chances throughout the match - on the rebound. Di Maria forced Hernandez into another stop soon after replacing Ronaldo. The Argentina forward unleashed a hard shot four minutes later that Hernandez smothered.

Murcia managed to create some danger in the 90th with a free kick inside Madrid's half but it failed to test Casillas once.

"It's still open," said Murcia's Miguel Albiol, brother of the Madrid defender. In the other 14 matches to be played Wednesday and Thursday, it's: Hercules vs. Malaga; Mallorca vs. Sporting Gijon; Real Union vs. Sevilla; Logrones vs. Valencia; Poli Ejido vs. Villarreal; Portugalete vs. Getafe; Xerez vs. Levante; Cordoba vs. Racing Santander; Valladolid vs. Espanyol; Real Betis vs. Zaragoza; Universidad de Las Palmas vs. Atletico Madrid; Alcorcon vs. Athletic Bilbao; Osasuna vs. Deportivo La Coruna; and Real Sociedad vs. Almeria.

Uefa.com Team of The Year 2008 - Spain Dominates The Best of 2008

The uefa.com users’ Team of the Year 2008 has been announced, with players from UEFA EURO 2008™ winners Spain dominating the selection.

More than 3.3 million votes were cast by about 256,000 users, whose resulting dream team features six members of the Spain side that conquered Europe last summer.

Goalkeeper : Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)

Right Back : Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

Central Defender : John Terry (Chelsea)

Central Defender : Carlos Puyol (Barcelona)

Left Back : Phillip Lahm (Bayern Munich)

Right Midfield : Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Central Midfield : Xavi (Barcelona)

Attacking Midfield : Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)

Left Midfield : Frank Ribery (Bayern Munich)

Forward : Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

Forward : Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Coach : Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)

Preview Uefa.com Team of The Year 2008 here.

Dortmund’s Metzelder all set for Real switch

German international defender Christoph Metzelder will leave Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund to join Spanish giants Real Madrid next season, Dortmund coach Thomas Doll revealed on Sunday.

The 26-year-old centre-back has made 30 appearances for his country and was named by national coach Joachim Loew in the squad for next month’s Euro 2008 qualifiers against San Marino and Slovakia.

Having admitted in interviews he has been learning Spanish for months, Metzelder’s switch to Madrid has been one of the worst kept secrets in football, but Doll finally confirmed it on Sunday.

“Christoph Metzelder will go to Real Madrid next season and we are looking for another defender to replace him,” Doll told German television channel DSF.

The move has yet to be confirmed by the Spanish side, but an announcement is expected by Real after La Liga finishes on Sunday.