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  Spanish League: Real Madrid crush Levante

Spanish League: Real Madrid crush Levante

AFP
Published : Mar 4, 2016, 7:24 am IST
Updated : Mar 4, 2016, 7:24 am IST

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (right) celebrates with Danilo after scoring against Levante in their Spanish League match at the Ciutat de Valencia Stadium in Valencia on Wednesday. Real won 3-1. — AP

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Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (right) celebrates with Danilo after scoring against Levante in their Spanish League match at the Ciutat de Valencia Stadium in Valencia on Wednesday. Real won 3-1. — AP

Real Madrid bounced back from defeat to Atletico in the Madrid derby on Saturday to cut the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to nine points with a 3-1 win at Levante on Wednesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty and an own goal from Levante ‘keeper Diego Marino put the visitors in command before Deyverson pulled one back for Levante before half-time.

However, Isco’s late strike from Ronaldo’s cut-back secured the points in stoppage time.

Real trail second-placed Atletico by four points, but do open up a four-point lead of their own on Villarreal after they were held 0-0 at Celta Vigo.

Barcelona can extend their lead over Atletico at the top to eight points with victory at Rayo Vallecano on Thursday.

Gary Neville’s Valencia moved into the top half of the table as they benefited from spectacular own goal by Malaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni to win 2-1 at La Rosaleda.

Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane was without a host of first team regulars as the suspended Dani Carvajal and Sergio Ramos joined the injured Marcelo, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema on the sidelines.

Real had former Levante ‘keeper Keylor Navas to thank for not getting off to a terrible start as he produced a brilliant save low to his left to prevent Giuseppe Rossi giving the home side a shock lead.

Ronaldo caused controversy with an outburst claiming Madrid “would be top” of the league if his teammates matched his standards after defeat to Atletico at the weekend.

The three-time World Player of the Year made amends by opening the scoring from the spot on 34 minutes after Lucas Vazquez had been tripped inside the area by Lucas Orban. Defeat leaves Levante still rooted to the foot of the table, six points off safety.

Location: Spain, Madrid