Madrid: Real Madrid returned to the top of La Liga with a comfortable 3-0 win over Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with his 38th goal of the season when he headed Angel di Maria’s corner low past Keylor Navas after just 11 minutes on Sunday.
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 half-time.
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.
Seemingly buoyed by Barca’s 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 wasn’t to be denied six minutes later, though, as he rose highest to meet Di Maria’s cross and power his header low into the corner.
Ancelotti’s men did eventually get the second four minutes after the restart through Marcelo and nine minutes from time Karabelas swept home Marcelo’s cross to make it 3-0 for the table toppers. (AFP)
