Ronaldo on target again as Real cut Barca’s lead

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his Spanish league-leading 38th goal of the season to help Real Madrid ease to a 3-0 win over Eibar and keep the pressure on Barcelona who let a two-goal slip to be held at Sevilla.

Madrid are now just two points behind Barcelona who drew 2-2 at a Sevilla side that hasn’t lost at home in more than a year.

Ronaldo sent a bouncing free kick over the wall and beyond goalkeeper Xabi Irureta in the 21st minute at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Little-used striker Javier Hernandez doubled the lead in the 31st, and youngster Jese Rodriguez capped the one-sided match in the 83rd.

Madrid was able to give some of its regular bench players a rare start while several first-choice starters rested ahead of its Champions League quarter-final at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

Atletico was unable to match Madrid’s win and dropped two points at Malaga in an exciting 2-2 draw. The defending champions needed Antoine Griezmann to salvage a point by scoring his 17th and 18th league goals of the campaign.

Top-scorers:

38 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
34 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
18 Neymar (Barcelona)
     Carlos Bacca (Sevilla)
16 Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
     Alberto Bueno (Rayo Vallecano)