Real Madrid's faint title hopes receded further after a 1-1 draw at home to Sociedad.
Real Madrid's faint title hopes receded further after a 1-1 draw at home to struggling Real Sociedad.
Ronaldo's crisp volley had put Real ahead before Sociedad equalised through Mark Gonzalez and Guti was sent off as the hosts finished the match with 10 men.
In second place at the start of the game, Real took the lead on 26 minutes when Zinedine Zidane's precise free kick was clipped home by Ronaldo for the Brazilian's 100th goal for the club.
He should have made it two just five minutes later when he slid in to steer Robinho's cross on to the post and he then nudged the rebound over the bar.
Sociedad were not without their threat and Gonzalez, on loan from Liverpool, let rip with a stinging free kick at the end of the first half which was tipped over by Iker Casillas.
The Real keeper, though, was at fault for the visitors' leveller on 62 minutes when he failed to gather Mikel Alonso's volleyed cross and Gonzalez reacted quickly to prod home.
Real had chances to win the game with Julio Baptista heading a presentable chance from Guti's free kick over the bar.
The best opportunity fell to his compatriot Robinho on 77 minutes, but the Brazilian starlet misjudged his header when picked out unmarked by Antonio Cassano's cross.
With Real struggling to find a winner, the game ended in unsavoury fashion as Guti was shown the red card before there was a spot of argy-bargy between the two teams.
But the result means that Real have lost second spot in the table after Valencia won 1-0 away to Celta Vigo.
Miguel Angel Angulo scored the only goal of the game on the half-hour mark when his fizzing shot eluded the Celta keeper.
Malaga's Primera Liga status looks increasingly fragile after slipping to a 2-1 defeat at home to Getafe.
A last minute winner from Veljko Paunovic condemned Malaga to defeat and the bottom club are now nine points from safety.
Paunovic had put Getafe ahead on 19 minutes before half time substitute Pablo Counago drew Malaga level five minutes into the second period.
The hosts then had Fernando Sanz sent off on 85 minutes and Paunovic compounded the misery with the winner deep into stoppage time.
Cadiz failed to seriously boost their survival hopes after a 1-1 draw at home to a resurgent Real Betis.
Lucas Lobos' penalty midway through the second half had Cadiz on course for a vital victory, but Joaquin plundered a last minute equaliser for Betis.
Click below for an individual match summary:
Cadiz 1-1 Real Betis
Celta Vigo 0-1 Valencia
Malaga 1-2 Getafe
Real Madrid 1-1 Real Sociedad
