Real Madrid took full advantage of Barcelona’s shock reverse at lowly Real Valladolid with a 3-0 win at home to 10-man Levante yesterday that put them three points clear at the top of the Spanish league standings.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the top scorer in La Liga this season, took his tally to 24 goals when he headed the opener from Angel Di Maria’s corner in the 11th minute and Marcelo added a second from Ronaldo’s assist four minutes after the break.

David Navarro was harshly shown a straight red card in the 64th minute for an innocuous-looking tackle on Ronaldo and fellow Levante defender Nikos Karampelas put the ball into his own net nine minutes from time.

Ronaldo, who became Portugal’s leading scorer with a double against Cameroon in Wednesday’s 5-1 friendly victory, came close to a second in the 90th minute when he headed against the underside of the crossbar and Gareth Bale whistled a low shot just past the post in added time.

Real have 67 points with 11 matches left, with city rivals Atletico Madrid three behind in second after they won 2-0 at Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Champions Barcelona, who play at Real Madrid in the La Liga “Clasico” in two weeks time, turned in one of their worst performances of the campaign on Saturday at Valladolid, who are battling relegation, and slipped to third on 63 points.

Primera Liga
Espanyol vs Elche 3-1; Almeria vs Sevilla 1-3; Real Madrid vs Levante 3-0; Valencia vs Ath. Bilbao 1-1; Granada vs Villarreal 2-0.

Leading standings: Real Madrid 67; Atletico Madrid 64; Barcelona 63; Athletic Bilbao 51; Villarreal 44; Real Sociedad 43; Sevilla 41.

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