Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini hailed match-winner Cristiano Ronaldo after the Primera Liga title hopefuls overcome what the Chilean described as their worst defensive performance of the season to down Osasuna 3-2 on Sunday night.

Real, knowing a defeat would all but end their hopes of overtaking leaders Barcelona, twice trailed to Osasuna and also allowed their mid-table opponents a number of other chances in what was a shaky and tense performance by the capital club.

However, Pellegrini's men twice equalised before the break and then snatched all three points when Ronaldo headed in his second of the game in the 89th minute, moving Real back to within a point of leaders Barcelona with three games remaining.

That late strike was Ronaldo's 22nd goal in 26 league appearances since joining from Manchester United last summer, and Pellegrini said of the £80m man: "He's a player who makes the difference and we are fortunate he's with us."

Pellegrini also praised his side's fighting spirit, adding: "I think the team is very strong, especially on a psychological level. This is vital in the final stage of the season."

However, the Madrid coach, whose future has been the subject of much speculation recently with Inter coach Jose Mourinho being closely linked as a possible summer replacement, was far from happy with his team's defending.

Raul Albiol's early mistake gifted Osasuna a seventh-minute lead, and the visitors created other decent opportunities that could have seen Real sunk long before Ronaldo's late winner.

"I think we've had the worst game of the season in defence, we were very weak at the back," he said.

"We suffered a lot. It wasn't an easy game and Osasuna made things very difficult."

Ronaldo felt the whole side was under-par.

"In my opinion all the team were very bad. I'm speaking of those up front, those in the middle and those at the back. We cannot allow Osasuna to have caused us so much danger," he was quoted as saying.

Real are next in action tomorrow when they go to fourth-placed Real Mallorca, while Barca host third-bottom Tenerife tonight.