Ronaldo and Real Madrid warm up in time for PSG and the Champions League

The Portuguese hit a hat-trick for Los Blancos in an excellent 5-2 win over Real Sociedad, a timely return to form ahead of Wednesday's European exam

"Thank you fans. On Wednesday night, the king of Europe is back." That was the message from the stadium announcer on the loudspeaker after Real Madrid thrashed Real Sociedad 5-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening. Reason to believe again, perhaps, for those supporters.

Real Madrid are a different beast in the European Cup and so too is Cristiano Ronaldo. Los Blancos have won the continental competition 12 times in their history and the Portuguese has played his part in the last three.

Last season, Ronaldo was struggling for goals in the Champions League, but hit 10 from the quarter-finals onwards, including two in the final against Juventus, as Madrid claimed La Duodécima in Cardiff