La Liga wrap: Ronaldo sparks Real rout

12 April 2012 08:24

Cristiano Ronaldo fired a hat-trick as Real Madrid restored their four-point lead atop La Liga with a 4-1 rout of Atletico Madrid.

Ronaldo was the star of the capital city derby, opening his side's account in emphatic fashion after dipping a superb 30-yard free-kick into goal after 25 minutes.

Hosts Atletico restored parity 10 minutes into the second half when Radamel Falcao headed Adrian's cross into the back of the net.

Real responded 13 minutes later as Ronaldo took advantage of some unsure defending before firing another sterling strike into the top corner.

The Portuguese forward completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot before Jose Callejon rounded out the victory in the closing stages.

The win takes Real four points clear of title rivals Barcelona.

Levante's dream of Champions League football took a major hit as they fell 3-2 on the road at Sporting Gijon, who are now four points from safety.

Valdo opened the scoring for the visitors before Gijon's Oscar Trejo restored parity on 23 minutes.

Arouna Kone regained the lead for Levante in the 63rd minute, only for Alberto Ramos to bring his team back into the match again 11 minutes later.

Gaston Maximiliano fired Gijon to the come-from-behind victory, shooting from outside the box for an 84th-minute winner.

With the result, Levante remain in fifth place, two points adrift of Malaga, while Sporting are in 19th with 28 points.

Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao registered two late goals to earn a 2-2 draw with Granada.

The hosts earned a surprising lead against Marcelo Bielsa's men after two minutes, with Jaime Romero placing the ball home after Gorka Iraizoz did well to stop a Mikel Rico shot.

Granada doubled up against the Europa League semi-finalists thanks to Alexandre Geijo, who finished calmly from inside the box after 74 minutes.

Fernando Llorente, who missed a penalty kick in the first half, brought his team back into the match with nine minutes remaining, before Markel Susaeta secured a dramatic draw three minutes from time.

With the draw, Bilbao are in eighth place on 42 points, four back of a Europa League spot.

Granada are in 16th with 36 points, eight above the relegation zone.

And Valencia ran out 4-1 winners at home to Rayo Vallecano to reclaim third place from Malaga.

Jonas Goncalves scored a double for the victors, with Jordi Alba and Pablo Hernandez also on target.

Diego Costa was the solitary scorer for Vallecano, who stay in 12th place after a fourth defeat in five matches.