Real Madrid and Barcelona continue their winning run

Posted on January 24, 2012 by SoccerPunter

Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties as Real Madrid restored their five-point La Liga advantage with a 4-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday just as the club reeled from allegations of a player revolt.

Ronaldo took his season’s league tally to 23, hours after Lionel Messi had hit a hat-trick in Barcelona‘s 4-1 triumph at Malaga.

That put the Argentine star on 22 for the season as the Spanish champions temporarily cut the gap on their bitter rivals at the top to just two points. On the day that Marca sports daily had claimed coach Jose Mourinho had accused some Real stars of betraying him in the aftermath of the midweek Spanish King’s Cup defeat to Barca, things got worse for his side.

Fernando Llorente gave Athletic a shock lead after 12 minutes following an inch perfect pass from Javi Martinez and in an evenly-contested first half Oscar De Marcos was denied the visitors’ second after keeper Iker Casillas blocked well.

But Real drew level with a well-worked team move which was finished by Marcelo.

Immediately after the restart Kaka was pulled back in the box by Ander Iturraspe and Ronaldo scored from the spot.

As Real continued to push forward they won a second penalty after 65 minutes when Mesut Ozil was felled by De Marcos, who received a red card, and Ronaldo converted from 12 yards.

Substitute Gonzalo Higuain then hit the post from a tight angle for a rampant Real before Jose Callejon, who also came off the bench, scored the fourth with five minutes to go.

After the Marca allegations, Mourinho held a meeting before Sunday’s match in an attempt to diffuse tensions which are believed to be the result of frustration with the coach’s tactics and team selection.

Earlier, Messi scored his 14th Barcelona hat-trick, and fifth of the season, as the champions cruised to a 4-1 win at Malaga.

Messi found the target in the 33rd, 50th and 80th minutes.

This was only Barca’s fourth league victory on their travels and Messi’s goals also brought to an end a poor personal run as of his 19 goals going into the game only one had come away from home.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola left Carles Puyol, Cesc Fabregas and Xavi Hernandez on the bench with one eye on Wednesday’s second leg Spanish Cup clash with Real.

Still it was a sluggish first half from the Catalan side and Malaga had the better openings notably for Isco Alarcon, who had a shot well-saved by keeper Victor Valdes.

He was denied twice more by the shot-stopper with a header and a close range strike.

But Messi then headed home an Adriano cross to put the visitors ahead after 33 minutes.

After the break Barcelona raised the tempo with Alexis Sanchez and Messi both scoring within five minutes.

Messi hit a free-kick against the woodwork before out-running the defence to slot in his third of the night.

With five minutes to go, substitute Jose Rondon claimed a consolation for Malaga.

Guardiola praised another impressive Messi contribution.

“To be consistent over a long period is very difficult and he has now rediscovered his touch in front of goal and that is very important for the games ahead,” said the coach.

“We have had an excellent first half of the season and our rival (Real Madrid) have taken some of the credit away from us but still we have dropped too many points where we shouldn’t have done.”

Valencia continue to struggle as they could only draw 1-1 in a scrappy game against Osasuna.

A late goal from Roberto Soldado with five minutes to go looked as though it would give Valencia a victory they did little to deserve.

But, in injury time, midfielder David Albelda was given a straight red for a rash challenge and from the resulting free-kick Osasuna equalised.

Keeper Diego Alves could only knock the ball back into play after a header from Dejan Lekic and substitute Lolo Ortiz rammed it home from close range.

Mallorca eased their relegation fears with a second half Ivan Ramis header giving them a 1-0 win away to Rayo Vallecano while bottom side Zaragoza earned a point in a 0-0 draw away to Levante.