Cristiano Ronald headed his 300th goal for Real Madrid in a laboured 2-0 La Liga victory at neighbours Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday that kept the gap on leaders Barcelona down to four points.
Fresh from thrashing Granada 9-1, when Ronaldo hit five, the European champions needed a win at Rayo’s Vallecas stadium after Barca strolled to a 4-0 home victory over Almeria to open a seven-point advantage over their arch-rivals.
In-form Luis Suarez scored twice and Lionel Messi ended a three-game goal drought, with Marc Bartra also getting on the scoresheet at the Nou Camp.
Real struggled to exert any control over lowly Rayo and missed a host of chances before Ronaldo netted his 37th La Liga goal of the campaign with a header from Dani Carvajal’s cross.
The prolific Portugal forward, five clear of Messi at the top of the scoring chart, is the third player after Raul (323) and Alfredo Di Stefano (307) to reach 300 goals for Real, but has needed only 288 matches, compared with Raul’s 741 and Di Stefano’s 396.
Ronaldo had earlier been booked for a dive in the penalty area and will be suspended for the La Liga game at home to Eibar on Saturday.
James Rodriguez made it 2-0 with a sharp finish from Ronaldo’s layoff to lift Real to 70 points, five ahead of third-placed champions Atletico Madrid, who won 2-0 at home to Real Sociedad on Tuesday.
"We tried to pressure them with more intensity high up the pitch but in the first half we were not convincing," Real coach Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference.
"In the second, we were more complete, we played well and we deserved to win," added the Italian.
Barca dominated Almeria at the Nou Camp
After edging to a 1-0 win at Celta Vigo on Sunday, Barca dominated Almeria at the Nou Camp to record their 20th victory in 22 matches this year in all competitions.
Messi, who had not scored since his double against Eibar three weeks ago, made it 1-0 in the 33rd minute when he skipped in from the right wing and whipped a left-foot effort inside the far post.
Almeria, who are third from bottom, defended doggedly but conceded again when Suarez netted an almost identical goal 10 minutes into the second half.
Centre back Bartra added a third when he nodded in a Xavi corner with 15 minutes left and Pedro set up Suarez to make it 4-0 in stoppage-time.
"We know that if we don't stay focussed in the league we will not get the three points," Suarez said in an interview with Spanish television.
With eight league games left, Barca have a chance of repeating 2009's historic treble under Pep Guardiola, the only time a Spanish side has won the domestic league and Cup and Champions League in the same season.
Deportivo fire coach after draw with bottom side Cordoba
Deportivo La Coruna have fired coach Victor Fernandez after a 1-1 draw at home to bottom side Cordoba on Wednesday left the Galician club hovering just above the La Liga relegation places.
"The board of directors ... has informed Victor Fernandez that from tonight he is no longer the first team coach," Deportivo said on their website (www.canaldeportivo.com).
As soon as a replacement is found the club president will hold a news conference.
Fernandez, who has also had stints in charge at clubs including Real Betis, Real Zaragoza and Porto, was appointed in July but a run of eight La Liga games without a win forced the board's hand.
Deportivo were one of the top sides in Europe just over a decade ago, reaching the 2004 Champions League semi-finals after winning La Liga in 2000, but have since been beset by financial problems and were relegated in 2011 and 2013.
Deportivo are 17th on 27 points with eight games left, two ahead of 18th-placed Almeria.
