La Liga: Cristiano Ronaldo scores as Real Madrid beat Levante 3-1

Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo converted a firsthalf penalty to lead Real Madrid to a 31 win at lastplace Levante in the Spanish league keeping his team third in the standingsReal Madrids Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates a goal during the Spanish league football match Levante UD vs Real Madrid CF at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium in Valencia PicAFPRonaldo scored from the spot in the 34th minute for his 23rd league goal of the season An own goal by Levante goalkeeper Diego Marino added to the lead in the 38th and Francisco Isco Alarcon sealed the victory in secondhalf injury timeBrazilian striker Deyverson scored Levantes goal in the 39th The victory helped Madrid rebound from a disappointing home loss to rival Atletico Madrid a result that virtually ended the teams title hopesIt has 57 points with 11 games to go four points behind secondplace Atletico which defeated Real Sociedad 30 at home on Tuesday and nine less than leader BarcelonaReal Madrid opened four points ahead of fourthplace Villarreal which was held to a 00 draw at sixthplace Celta Vigo Madrid is looking to at least secure third in the standings which guarantees an automatic spot in the Champions League next season without having to play in the qualifying roundIt was Madrids first victory in three games and the sixth since coach Zinedine Zidane took over the squad nine rounds agoWe want commitment Zidane said We need all players giving everything that they have Im happy with what I saw todayMissing several regular starters including Gareth Bale Karim Benzema Sergio Ramos and Marcelo Madrid struggled to impose its game It controlled possession at the Ciutat de Valencia Stadium but the hosts had chances to earn at least a drawRonaldo missed a penalty against Malaga two rounds ago but struck the net with a firm low shot on Wednesday after youngster Lucas Vazquez was fouled inside the areaIt was the eighth goal in seven matches for Ronaldo who sparked a controversy after the loss to Atletico by saying that Madrid could be in first place if everyone else in the squad was at his levelThis is in the past we talked about it and we are all on the same boat Madrid defender Pepe said We have to keep working hard to honor this jersey Ronaldo almost nearly had a second goal in the 66th minute but his closerange shot struck the postTeenage striker Borja Mayoral another member of Madrids youth squads played a key part in helping Madrid increase the lead with a shot from the edge of the area in the 38th The ball hit the post and bounced off goalkeeper Marino who ended up pushing it across the line as he tried to grab itThe team fought hard Pepe said This is what our fans want they want us to give all we have In some other games we relaxed a bitLevante pulled one closer with Deyversons easy goal from inside the area after Madrids defense failed to clear a long ball sent into the box Madrid players complained of a foul on midfielder Casemiro before the ball got to DeyversonLevante has 20 points six less than Getafe the first team outside relegation zoneWe created good chances but it was difficult after the penalty and the unlucky goal we conceded Marino saidTheres still time but we have to start winning points right awayIn Vigo Villarreal missed a chance to keep pace with Madrid by drawing 00 with Celta The result extended Villarreals 14game unbeaten streak in the leagueSevilla moved past Celta into fifthplace by beating Eibar 10 at home while striker Aritz Aduriz scored a hat trick in Athletics 41 win over Deportivo La Coruna in BilbaoGary Nevilles Valencia rallied to pick up a 21 win at Malaga Valencias opening goal was a freak blunder by Malaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni who sent the ball into this own net while trying to punch it away after a high cross into the areaThe ball was going past the goal when the Cameroon goalkeeper powerfully redirected it into the net with his right hand He later complained with the referee apparently wanting a foul from a nearby Valencia playerRussian striker Denis Cheryshev scored Valencias second moving his team into ninth in the standings with its third win in four matches