Rusty Ronaldo off target in 1st match for Real Madrid as ‘galacticos’ struggle to 1-0 win

Ronaldo misfires in 1st match for Real Madrid

DUBLIN — Cristiano Ronaldo struggled in his first match for Real Madrid, missing two free kicks in a preseason friendly against the Shamrock Rovers, a Dublin club of part-time players.

The team held Real Madrid’s starters at bay through the first half Monday in front of a sellout crowd of 10,800 at Tallaght Stadium. A late strike from Karim Benzema gave the visitors a 1-0 win.

Ronaldo, the world’s most expensive player, struck one free kick wide right and the other straight into a wall of Rovers players. He also had a shot wide before being substituted at halftime.