MADRID — Real Madrid followed up Tuesday’s Champions League success at Manchester United by climbing above beaten city rivals Atletico into second in La Liga when Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice in a 2-1 win at second-bottom Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Reuters
Ronaldo netted the goal that sent Real through to the last eight of Europe’s elite club competition at the expense of his former club and his latest double took his league tally for the season to 26, 14 behind top scorer Lionel Messi of Barcelona.
The victory was far from convincing, but put champions Real a point clear of Atletico on 58 points with 11 games left, 13 behind leaders Barça who won 2-0 at basement side Deportivo La Coruña on Saturday. Atletico had won all 13 home matches this season, but went down 1-0 to Real Sociedad in the late kickoff.
Ronaldo nodded against the crossbar in a goalless first half before the Portugal forward pounced on a loose ball and fired in from close range in the 61st minute.
Celta levelled two minutes later when an Iago Aspas strike deflected off Pepe and bounced past Diego Lopez into the net before Kaka won a 71st-minute penalty when he was felled by Lopez’s opposite number Javi Varas.
Ronaldo dispatched the spot-kick for his 19th goal in all competitions since the turn of the year, three more than Messi.
