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Real Madrid has dazzled a record football crowd at the MCG on their way to beating Manchester City 4-1 at the MCG.
First-half goals from Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe won the contest for Real in front of an incredible crowd of 99,382.
City found a reply through a Yaya Toure penalty, but a second-half goal finish from Denis Cherychev put paid to any City comeback.
After a dire first-up display against Roma a week earlier, Real produced a virtuoso performance to claim the inaugural International Champions Cup Australia.
In front of a record MCG crowd for a football match, Real’s forward line, led by Ronaldo, made mincemeat of City’s two young centre-backs.
Both sides fielded strong starting line-ups, but for 16-year-old Cameron Humphreys and 20-year-old Jason Denayer at the heart of City’s defence.
It didn’t take long for Real to put them to work, although City had the first major chance.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side were denied a cast-iron penalty on 10 minutes, when Real keeper Keilor Navas attempted to clean up a Sergio Ramos mistake but instead elbowed Yaya Toure in the head.
City found themselves behind shortly after.
Gareth Bale’s centre found Benzema, who volleyed expertly with his right foot on 21 minutes.
It was 2-0 three minutes later when Ronaldo brought under control Toni Kroos’ pinpoint long-ball before volleying home with his second touch.
The Portuguese star celebrated in front of the Punt Road end after City goalkeeper Joe Hart palmed it over the line.
A rout was on when Isco’s curling corner found Pepe, who sent a bullet header past Hart to give Los Merengues a 3-0 lead on 43 minutes.
But a dubious penalty against Ramos gave City a penalty in the last minute before the break.
Replays showed Ramos’ handball was preceded by another from Raheem Sterling, but in any case Toure’s goal made up for the missing whistle earlier in the half.
While most of Real’s superstars had departed by 65 minutes, there was still enough time for a trademark Ronaldo free kick effort.
Cheers accompanied Ronaldo’s every touch all night while the sold-out crowd must have contained plenty of Liverpool fans, as the boos rang out when ex-Red Sterling featured on the ball.
The Ballon d’Or winner’s last action for the night was to send the effort high, before exiting to raucous cheers.
Cherychev wrapped up Real’s night by tapping home after fine lead-up work from Isco on 72 minutes.
While the friendly result is unlikely to worry Pellegrini, an injury to debutant Fabian Delph could.
Delph lasted just over 15 minutes before being stretchered off with a suspected hamstring injury.
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