3-0: Levante downed and back on top

Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo and Nikos (OG) sealed the side's 21st win in the league and Real Madrid are now three points ahead of Atlético and four in front of Barcelona. 

Real Madrid refuse to let up in the league, and they increased their lead over the sides behind them. Last week they were one point ahead of Barcelona and three in front of Atlético, whereas with this win over Levante they remain three points ahead of their city rivals, whilst they hold a four point advantage over the Catalan side. The Whites dominated from the off, playing with a spectacular rhythm during the first quarter of an hour, surpassing the Valencian side.

Cristiano Ronaldo volleyed at goal in the sixth minute, but Keylor Navas'  save kept the scoreline level. Five minutes later the Portuguese didn't miss. A corner that was taken by Di María was met by the league's top scorer, who rose above everyone before beating the visiting goalkeeper with a fine header.

The Whites had already scored once and the fact the scoreline didn't read more heavily in their favour before half time was largely due to Navas, who shone against Di María and Benzema. The Costa Rican arrived at the Bernabéu with the reputation as a top goalkeeper, and his performance in the first half only accentuated that. The stopper managed to touch Benzema's header from Marcelo's inviting cross onto the post when it looked for all the world as if it would be a goal.

The woodwork prevented more goals

The Madrid side had needed 11 minutes to get themselves in front in the first half, but they only need four in the second half to double their advantage. The play deserved it. Cristiano Ronaldo combined with Marcelo and the Brazilian showed excellent feet before finishing precisely with his right foot. The league leaders were like a gust of wind and Benzema might have scored the third, but Navas' reflexes were too good and he kept the effort out.

Levante, who were very organised, were reduced to 10 men when David Navarro was sent off in the 64th minute, and Benzema, as in the first half, hit the woodwork eight minutes later. Ancelotti's gameplan from dead balls worked once more, and the Frenchman sent his header on to the bar.

There was still time for one more goal, scored by Nikos in his own net in the 81st minute. Marcelo centred the ball and the Greek, under no pressure, sliced the ball into his own goal as he attempted to clear. A fourth might have come, but the bar denied Cristiano Ronaldo in the 89th minute. Three goals and three shots against the woodwork. An important win and Real Madrid are the only side to be unbeaten in the second round of Liga fixtures.

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Levante - La Liga - 09/03/2014

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Cameroon - Friendly Match - 05/03/2014

2-2: Real Madrid stay top with a draw at the Calderón

Benzema put Real Madrid ahead and Cristiano Ronaldo scored the equaliser in an intense match in which the Whites gave it their all on the field.Real Madrid gave everything they had at the Vicente Calderón to keep their top spot in a game in which they deserved more given the number of chances they created. It only took three minutes for them put on a footballing demonstration at one of the most difficult grounds to play at in Europe. Merit for the move perhaps lies with Ancelotti's laboratory. Di María hit a short corner to Arbeloa, who passed it back to the Argentine, who in turn curled it into the centre of the field. Benzema, alone and in front of the goal, put the Whites ahead and continued the exhibition he had put on four days earlier against Gelsenkirchen.

The intensity grew, but the chances continued to fall to the visitors. Benzema had an attempt in the 23rd minute. A pass came in from Di María from 30 metres and without letting the ball drop the Frenchman struck a volley. A minute later Cristiano Ronaldo also had a chance to extend their lead, hitting a back-heel from a Modric cross. The Portuguese player's ploy took Courtois by surprise and he needed two attempts to clear. Atlético were yet to have a shot on goal, but they scored on their first attempt. Arda stopped in front of the box and slipped it to Koke, who beat Diego López with an angled shot in the 28th minute.

The game got even more complicated after the final play of the first half. Gabi received the ball in the centre of the field, took it forward and surprised Diego López from 40 metres out. Madrid would have to fight back, but there were still 45 minutes on the clock. The equaliser could have come in the 62nd minute. A cross came in from Modric and this time another volley from Benzema went wide. Four minutes later Bale had a chance with his head, forcing Courtois to make a great save. The Whites deserved at least a draw, but the goal was proving difficult to score. A header from Cristiano Ronaldo missed the opposition goal by a few centimetres.

The game began to flag and Real Madrid grew more comfortable on the field. The Whites came and came and the visitors parried and cleared the ball with increasing frequency. The well deserved equaliser came in the 82nd minute. Carvajal, playing with pride, recovered a ball that seemed lost and crossed it in. Bale knocked the ball down and Cristiano Ronaldo struck it beautifully to level the score. From then on all the chances belonged to the visitors, who gave it their all at the Calderón.

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Atletico Madrid - La Liga - 02/03/2014

Cristiano Ronaldo is the first player to score 10 or more goals for three consecutive seasons in the Champions League

The forward notched up 10 and 12 in the last two editions of the tournament, and currently has 11 in this campaign.Cristiano Ronaldo's double against Schalke 04 took his Champions League tally to 11 for the season, setting a new competition record. The Madrid forward is the first player to ever score more than 10 goals in three consecutive seasons. In the 2011/12 season he scored 10, in the 2012/13 campaign 12, and is currently the competition's top scorer with 11.

Cristiano Ronaldo's numbers with Real Madrid in the Champions League are spectacular, averaging a goal per game: 46 in 46. Also, this season he has scored in the six games in which he has played. In Real Madrid's European Cup scoring charts he has moved up to third place this season, behind only Raúl and Di Stéfano.

Cristiano Ronaldo: "We have scored six fundamental goals and now we are just one step away from the next stage"

"We played a good game and the other team were not at their best because we didn't let them", said the forward. 

Cistiano Ronaldo scored twice in the win over Schalke 04 and showed his pleasure with the game: "I believe that we played a good game and the other side were not at the best because we didn't let them. We scored six fundamental goals and we are just one step away from the next stage and we are happy. In general the side were good, from Casillas and the defence to the midfield. Us forwards do our work of always trying to score goals".About his individual performance he said: "The goalkeeper played well and made good saves. I believe in myself and my ability and my teammates help me a lot and they give me the confidence to play at such a high level. I scored twice in the second half so I'm very happy".His return to the side“What happened has happened. I am frustrated by it, because what I did didn't deserve a three game ban, but I am very happy to return and score twice. We are up for the derby, we are Real Madrid and we will give our best and try to win".

Schalke 1-6 Real Madrid: Ronaldo, Bale & Benzema embarrass hosts

The attacking Blancos trio were on fire at the Veltins Arena and clinically left die Knappen staring down a probable Champions League exit

Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema pummelled Schalke into submission as Real Madrid planted one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals with a 6-1 win on Wednesday.

The Blancos opened the scoring in Germany early on when Bale's ball was flicked through die Knappen's defence by Ronaldo for Benzema to pounce and bury in the back of the net, before the Welshman grabbed a goal of his own, weaving into the box then finishing in the bottom corner.

Ronaldo had plenty of chances to add his name to the scoresheet but struggled to find the net, but finally slammed one his shots home as the second half plodded along, with Benzema converting from a tight angle on a Madrid counterattack shortly afterwards.

Sergio Ramos carved open Schalke's decimated defence with 20 minutes still remaining and Bale duly delivered the visitors a fifth at the Veltins Arena, burying the ball neatly into the back of the net.

Ronaldo capitalised on lackadaisical Schalke defending by waltzing in a sixth for Madrid with a minute left on the clock, although Klaas-Jan Huntelaar bagged the goal of the night by volleying home an absolute beauty in stoppage-time for the hosts.

The comfortable victory sees Jens Keller's men facing almost-certain elimination from Europe at the last 16 stage and eases any pressure on Carlo Ancelotti's side - who hade only won one of their last 25 visits to Germany in Uefa competition - ahead of the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 18.

Keller had spoken in the build-up about the Germans' need to be "brave" against a side he ranks as arguably the second best in the world - behind Schalke's Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich - but there was little his side could do about Madrid's opener.

Ronaldo's flicked pass was deflected into the area for Benzema and the Frenchman coolly slotted past Ralf Fahrmann to give the visitors a perfect start.

Schalke should have levelled a minute later, however. Draxler darted in behind the visitors' defence to direct Jefferson Farfan’s right-wing cross past Casillas, but the Spaniard launched himself across goal to palm it away, before Meyer blazed the rebound over.

Madrid made the most of that let-off and doubled their lead 21 minutes in, with Bale showing his class.

After cutting in from the right, the Welshman cleverly slalomed his way between Felipe Santana and Sead Kolasinac before squeezing a shot into the bottom-right corner, capping a wonderful solo run.

Ronaldo almost made it 3-0 just after the half-hour mark, but after jolting past Kolasinac and shooting from 20 yards, his low drive came back off Fahrmann’s right-hand post.

Ronaldo finally got a deserved goal in the 52nd minute and he netted in style as the Ballon d'Or winner dazzled Joel Matip with three stepovers before charging into the area and rifling in a left-footed effort.

A fourth arrived just five minutes later as Benzema doubled his tally for the match, passing into an empty net after playing a one-two with Ronaldo and bursting around Fahrmann, but things soon got even worse for the hosts.

With 21 minutes remaining, Bale raced on to an intricate throughball from Ramos and confidently caressed the ball past the goalkeeper with his left foot.

The visitors added a sixth for good measure as Ronaldo latched on to Benzema's pass, skipped past Fahrmann and passed home.

There was still time for Schalke to get a consolation as Huntelaar fired in a superb volleyed effort from the edge of the area, but Real had already long since killed off the tie.

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Schalke 04 - Champions League - 26/02/2014

Cristiano Ronaldo Training Session - 25/02/2014

Atletico Madrid 0-2 Real Madrid (0-5 agg): Ronaldo double seals Blancos' final berth

The Portuguese netted twice from the spot to avenge last year's Copa final defeat to Diego Simeone's men and book their place in the final against Barcelona

Two Cristiano Ronaldo penalties helped seal Real Madrid's place in the Copa del Rey final and avenge last year's defeat to Atletico Madrid.

The Portugal international's seventh-minute opener made life almost impossible for the hosts before he completed his double just nine minutes later with another spot-kick to hand the visitors a dream start to the second leg.

Ronaldo was unable to complete his hat-trick, however, as the 18-time winners booked a final clash with either Barcelona thanks to a 5-0 aggregate win. 

Real also created a little slice of history by becoming the only team to reach the Copa del Rey final without conceding a goal. 

Raphael Varane made his first start since November after suffering with a knee injury, while Atletico were without key men such as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, midfielder Tiago and attacker David Villa due to injury, with Diego Costa suspended.

Gareth Bale threatened first, glancing a header wide from Xabi Alonso's delivery, before Ronaldo was brought down in the area by Javier Manquillo after leaving Miranda for dead with an electric turn of pace.

The Portuguese stepped up to fire home the first away goal of the tie to the right of Daniel Aranzubia and register his 33rd goal of the season in all competitions.

Raul Garcia struck Real's post with an impressive long-range effort five minutes later, but Diego Simeone's men were hit with another blow when Bale was fouled by Emiliano Insua in the area.

Referee Alberto Undiano again pointed to the spot and Ronaldo firmly placed the ball in the same corner as before to double Real's advantage in the game after just 16 minutes.

Despite conceding two early goals, Atletico continued to pass the ball well, but struggled to create any real chances.

The home side's best spell came in the final 10 minutes of the half when Garcia almost found himself through on goal, only for Varane to clear, before Cristian Rodriguez fired over from the left-hand edge of the box.

Ronaldo almost completed his hat-trick five minutes before the break, but screwed an effort high and wide from inside the area, before he was involved in a mid-air tangle with Manquillo.

The defender landed awkwardly on his neck, but continued for the remainder of the half, with Ronaldo hit by an object that appeared to be thrown from the crowd as he left the field at half-time.

Opportunities were limited in the early parts of the second half, with Bale's dipping free kick causing Aranzubia problems 25 minutes from time.

Atletico continued to look neat in possession but failed to get behind Real other than when Jose Sosa rifled an effort at Iker Casillas - forcing the Spaniard into a smart save. 

Defeat represents a third straight loss for Atletico without finding the net, with the sides due to renew rivalries in La Liga in March.