IRRESPECTIVE of the scoreline, followers of AFC Bournemouth were always going to be the real winners.

And while it may have finished in triumph for Spain over England, this high-profile pre-season friendly gave Cherries supporters a night to remember.

While sun-worshippers had been basking in 90 degree heat on the beach during the day, lovers of the beautiful game were treated to a feast of football by the Spanish giants.

Some Cherries fans must have been pinching themselves when Cristiano Ronaldo appeared from the tunnel resplendent in Real’s legendary white kit. The Portuguese also took centre stage during the game, his stunning first-half free-kick one of the best witnessed at Dean Court.

There were more than a few eyebrows raised when the fixture was revealed three weeks ago, while the club also drew its fair share of criticism when ticket prices were announced.

However, the fact spectators were prepared to camp out overnight to secure a golden ticket and snapped them up within hours of going on sale went a long way to vindicating the cost.

And for most it was £60 well spent as the La Liga runners-up and nine-time champions of Europe did not short change anybody, their squad packed with internationals, headed by global icon Ronaldo.

For the majority of Cherries supporters, this fixture – arranged as a celebration of the club’s promotion to the Championship – was the icing on the cake. Some would say they have never had it so good.

Less than five years ago, the club had been contemplating the prospect of dropping into non-league or, even worse, going to the wall. Fast forward and the transformation has been nothing short of remarkable.

The opening of the Ted MacDougall Stand by Cherries’ legendary striker ahead of kick-off put the finishing touches to a stadium fans can be proud of and followed the cutting of the ribbon on a new club shop.

Significant financial backing was a key component in winning promotion, as was securing the services of Eddie Howe, one of the country’s brightest young managers.

In the opposite dugout, ex-Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti took charge of Real Madrid for the first time, together with the club’s newly-appointed assistant Zinedine Zidane, a World Cup winner with France.

Real handed debuts to new signings Isco and Asier Illarramendi, the pair signed at a joint cost of £60million, while Ronaldo, an £80million buy from Manchester United, started.

Their starting line-up included no fewer than 10 full internationals, with odd man out Daniel Carvajal capped at under-21 level by Spain.

Real had clearly done their homework, skipper Pepe winning the toss and asking Cherries to attack the Steve Fletcher Stand in the first half, something they would prefer to do in the second.

In typical Ronaldo fashion, he twice went close to scoring with extravagant efforts in the early stages, his audacious flick flashing wide before a trademark long-range free-kick whistled past the upright.

Brett Pitman’s strike was deflected for a corner as Cherries threatened to take a shock lead before Ronaldo’s cheeky back heel was blocked by Darryl Flahavan.

Defender Daniel Carvajal escaped following a loud penalty appeal for handball, while Tommy Elphick threw himself in front of Karim Benzema to prevent the Frenchman’s effort reaching Flahavan.

There was more than a sprinkling of continental flair about Pitman’s delightful chip, the striker’s deft effort dropping the wrong wide of the post with Real goalkeeper Diego Lopez well beaten.

Ronaldo’s 22nd-minute opener was worth the entrance fee alone, the world’s most expensive footballer beating Cherries’ free transfer goalkeeper with a missile of a free-kick from 35 yards.

Lopez smothered Mohamed Coulibaly’s pot-shot after Harry Arter had teed up Cherries’ new recruit before Real netted twice on the stroke of half-time to give the scoreline a rather flattering look.

Ronaldo profited from Elphick’s slip to add his second before Sami Khedira poked home through a crowd of players following a corner from Isco, Real’s 30million euro signing from Malaga.

Gonzalo Higuain, one of nine Real substitutes at the break, slotted number four past Flahavan just after the interval before the goalkeeper’s fine save prevented the Argentine adding a fifth.

Kaka then rattled the crossbar with a ferocious strike from 25 yards and Angel di Maria dragged wide a long-range effort.

However, Flahavan was powerless to stop di Maria making it 5-0, his left foot strike from 25 yards squeezing inside the post.

Casemiro finished with aplomb and completed the scoring five minutes from time after being set free by Asier Illarramendi’s defence-splitting pass.

Cherries: Flahavan (Jalal, 84), Francis (Stockley, 84), Cook (Hughes, 61), Elphick (Addison, 74), Daniels (Thomas, 84), Coulibaly (Harte, 66), Arter (Purches, 84), MacDonald (Wakefield, 84), Fraser (Matthews, 74), Pitman (Ward, 27), Grabban (Chiedozie, 66).

Real Madrid first half: Lopez, Carvajal, Nacho, Coentrão, Modric, Khedira, Ronaldo, Isco, Ozil, Benzema.

Real Madrid second half: Jesus, Nacho (Quini, 67), Carvajal (Casado, 67), Morata, di Maria, Higuain, Casemiro, Illarramendi, Kaka, Cheryshev, Mateos.

Attendance: 11,772.

Referee: Lee Probert (Bath).