Big wins for Real, Barcelona

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


Real Madrid's two-goal hero Ronaldo celebrates netting one against
Athletic Bilbao in a La Liga match on Sunday.u00a0

Ronaldo took his season's league tally to 23, just hours after Lionel Messi had hit a fifth hat-trick of the season in Barcelona's 4-1 triumph at Malaga. That put the Argentine star on 22 goals.


Hat-trick hero Messi is ecstatic after scoring for Barcelona against Malaga
in a La Liga match. Pics/AFP

Fernando Llorente gave Athletic a shock lead but Real drew level with a Marcelo goal. Ronaldo's brace after fouls on Kaka and Mesut Ozil in the box, along with a Jose Callejon strike completed the rout for Real.

Coach Jose Mourinho received whistles from sections of the Bernabeu crowd. Messi's 14th Barcelona hat-trick and a goal from Alexis Sanchez proved sufficient for the Catalans. Jose Rondon scored a consolatory goal for Malaga late in the game.