Real win as Ronaldo sees red, Barça hammer Elche
Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for lashing out as Gareth Bale scored a late penalty to give a ragged Real Madrid a 2-1 win at Cordoba that kept them on top of the Primera Division.
The European champions fell behind to a penalty scored by Nabil Ghilas in only the second minute of the game but Karim Benzema levelled later on in the first half. Cordoba had a number of chances to retake the lead in the second half but wasted them all and Bale snatched the winner from 12 yards in the 88th minute after his free-kick was handled by Fede Cartabia, who was also sent off.
Lionel Messi and Neymar each scored braces as Barcelona hammered struggling Elche 6-0 to keep the pressure on leaders Real as they remain just one point back in the standings. The Catalans needed 36 minutes to break the deadlock through Gerard Pique but dominated the second half, particularly after Elche midfielder Faycal Fajr was sent off in the 57th minute. Neymar and Messi then set about ravaging their opponents, while Pedro scored the final goal of the game in stoppage time.
Atletico Madrid kept pace with their rivals at the top as they brushed aside neighbours Rayo Vallecano 3-1. Antoine Griezmann scored twice - and somehow missed out on a hat-trick despite a string of second-half chances - and, although Roberto Trashorras pulled one back before half-time, an own goal from Alberto Manucho put Atletico back in firm control early in the second half.
Villarreal kept the heat on the teams at the top with a 1-0 win over neighbours Levante as visiting goalkeeper Diego Marino suffered a forgettable return to El Madrigal. Luciano Vietto netted a 56th-minute winner following a bad mistake from Marino. Vietto was quickest to react after Marino spilled Manuel Trigueros' 25-yard strike as Villarreal moved level on 38 points with fifth-placed Valencia, who play fourth-placed Sevilla on Sunday.
Xabi Prieto's second-half goal ensured Real Sociedad returned to winning ways. Prieto headed home the game's only goal at the Anoeta to see off Basque neighbours Eibar 1-0 and earn David Moyes' side a welcome three points after last weekend's home loss at the hands of Rayo Vallecano. The result lifted Sociedad to 11th place, and left Eibar eighth.