MADRID, November 24 – Cristiano Ronaldo was forced off with an injury having opened the scoring and Gareth Bale was also on target as Real Madrid won 5-0 at Almeria to remain six points behind Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
Barcelona made light work of their own injury problems as despite Lionel Messi’s absence they cruised to a 4-0 win over Granada at the Camp Nou.
Ronaldo had taken less than three minutes to register his 14th goal in his last seven games for club and country as he flicked home Isco’s cross to give Madrid the lead.
However, had to be replaced by Jese Rodriguez just six minutes into the second-half as he hobbled off down the tunnel.
Despite losing their star man, Madrid were rampant in the final half hour as Karim Benzema made the game safe before Bale, Isco and Alvaro Morata rounded off the scoring.
Having scored a hat-trick against Sweden to guarantee Portugal’s place in the World Cup earlier in the week, Ronaldo continued his scoring streak as he flicked home Isco’s low cross from the right.
The former Manchester United man then had a fierce long-range effort beaten away by Esteban and the Almeria keeper got down well to stop Benzema’s follow-up effort.
Ronaldo was denied by another fine save from Esteban midway through the first-half, but that was to be his final significant involvement of the evening as he limped off just after the restart.
Benzema ensured there was little time for Almeria to take encouragement from Ronaldo’s absence as he curled home from 20 yards two minutes later.
Bale then slotted home his fourth goal in six games from close range as he took advantage of some sloppy defending by the hosts.
More was to come from Madrid as Isco then fired home from long range and substitute Morata completed the rout with a dinked finish over Esteban 10 minutes from time.
Earlier, Barca continued their 100 percent home record this season with a 4-0 victory over 10-man Granada.
First-half penalties from Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas put the Catalans in command at the break.
The visitors were then left to play the final quarter of the game with a man less as Manuel Iturra was shown a second yellow card.
Alexis Sanchez added a third soon after from Neymar’s pass before Pedro Rodriguez rounded off the scoring a minute from time.
With Victor Valdes, Xavi Hernandez, Dani Alves and Jordi Alba also out injured, Barca boss Gerardo Martino was forced into making seven changes from the side that started their last outing against Real Betis two weeks ago.
However, Martino reiterated his belief that Barca have an ample enough squad to cope with such a number of key absentees.
“Some of the best players, like Leo or Victor, are missing, but all the players are very good. Those that can play just now are very good so I don’t see it as a different match. It was a game in which we had some difficulties but there was no motive for us not to play a good game.
“We have to work out how to win every game we are faced with and the best thing we can do is wait for Leo, Victor, Jordi, Dani, Xavi whilst winning so that the team gains confidence and so they don’t have to come back in a week or a month with the extra pressure of begin the saviours of the team.
“The thing that I will never do is make excuses.”
The individual performance of the evening came, however, came from Real Sociedad’s Carlos Vela as he scored four times as the Basques came from 3-1 down to beat 10-man Celta Vigo 4-3 at Anoeta.
