Real Madrid returned to the top of La Liga with a comfortable 3-0 win over Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with his 38th goal of the season when he headed Angel di Marias corner low past Keylor Navas after just 11 minutes. Navas then kept his side in the game with a string of fine saves, but there was nothing the Costa Rican could do when Ronaldo teed up Marcelo to curl in the second four minutes after halftime Levante were reduced to 10 men on 63 minutes when David Navarro was shown a straight red card for a foul on Ronaldo. And the visitors miserable evening was summed up when Nikos Karabelas scored a spectacular own goal nine minutes from time to make it 3-0 Victory means Real now lead second-placed Atletico Madrid by three points with Barcelona a further point back in third. It is a small advantage, but we cannot get ahead of ourselves. We can only think about the next game, said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti At one point we were six points behind so right now we are in a very good position. All we can do is conitnue in this form There is still a long way in the season to go and the objective is to get to the last game of the season in this position. Seemingly buoyed by Barcas latest setback in losing to lowly Valladolid on Saturday, Real started very brightly and Ronaldo forced Navas into his first stop after five minutes with a nicely cushioned volley that the keeper collected at the second attempt. The Portuguese wasnt to be denied six minutes later, though, as he rose highest to meet Di Marias cross and power his header low into the corner Navas then had to be quick off his line to smther efforts from Di Maria and Karim Benzema as Madrid continued to press. The pick of the saves from the Levante goalkeeper came in first-half stoppage time as he leapt to his right to turn Benzemas header from close range onto the post Ancelottis men did eventually get the all-important second goal four minutes after the restart when a lovely one-two between Ronaldo and Marcelo freed the Brazilian inside the area and he curled the ball into the far corner on his weaker right foot Navas continued to frustrate Benzema moments later as he turned away the Frenchmans fiercely struck effort from the edge of the box. Levante were reduced to 10 men just after the hour mark when Navarros reckless challenge from behind on Ronaldo was deemed to be worthy of a straight red card by referee Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva. The visitors then inflicted more damage upon themselves nine minutes from time when Karabelas swept home Marcelos cross However, there was just one moment of worry for Real when right-back Dani Carvajal collapsed to the turf in stoppage time under no pressure from a Levante player and had to be stretchered from the field Earlier on Sunday, Sevilla routed Almeria 3-1 on the road to earn their third consecutive victory, while Espanyol also eased to a 3-1 home win over Elch The victories left Sevilla and Espanyol in seventh and eighth place respectively - and in the race for a Europa league berth Striker Carlos Bacca scored his 11th league goal of the season to put Sevilla ahead at Juegos Mediterraneos Stadium in the 31st Daniel Carrico was left unmarked to sweep in a corner kick headed on in the 51st, and Kevin Gameiro tapped in a pass from Ivan Rakitic in the 77th. Aleix Vidal finished off a flowing team buildup for Almerias consolation goal in the 85th Espanyol forward Simao Sabrosa set up his teams first two goals. David Lopez headed in Simaos corner to open the scoring two minutes in, and Sabrosa picked out Diego Colotto with a free kick to make it 2-0 in the 21st Luis Pizzi Afonsos deflected shot went in off a defender and the crossbar in the 58th to ensure Elche stayed winless in eight consecutive away games Espanyol fullback Juan Fuentes scored an own goal in the 88th Almeria stayed in the relegation zone, with Elche clinging to safety by three points.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 21:05:52 +0000