Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Real Madrid to a stunning 6-2 win at Sevilla with a superb four-goal haul.
Real hit Sevilla for six, Almeria go down
Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Real Madrid to a stunning 6-2 win at Sevilla with a superb four-goal haul.
Sergio Ramos set Real on their way with the opener on 21 minutes with a towering header against his former club.
Ronaldo got his first of the night on 31 minutes before Kaka curled home a superb curled effort from the edge of the box three minutes before the break.
Alvaro Negredo pulled a goal back for Sevilla just past the hour mark, but Ronaldo restored the three-goal cushion with his second of the contest on 65 minutes.
Ronaldo completed his hat-trick five minutes later with a cool finish and the Portuguese ace grabbed his fourth on 75 minutes to go ahead of Lionel Messi for top scorer in Primera Liga with his 33rd league goal of the campaign and his 46th goal in all competitions.
Negredo netted a consolation for Sevilla with his second goal of the game six minutes from time.
Almeria were relegated after losing 2-0 at fellow strugglers Getafe, while Valencia cemented their place in third spot.
Goals in each half from Adrian Colunga and Pedro Rios were enough to give
Getafe the three points and condemn
Almeria to the drop.
The defeat leaves Almeria, who have only managed five wins all season, 12 points adrift of safety with only three games left.
Valencia got back to winning ways with 3-0 victory over
Real Sociedad at La Mestalla.
Roberto Soldado scored twice for the home side with Jonas Goncalves netting the other goal to send Valencia six points clear of fourth-placed Villarreal.
Athletic Bilbao survived a late fightback from
Levante to win 3-2 at San Mames.
The Basque club raced into a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Gaizka Toquero, David Lopez (penalty) and Fernando Llorente.
However, Levante netted twice in the final 13 minutes through Christian Stuani and Victoriano Nano to put set up a dramatic finale, but Bilbao held on for the three points.
Malaga climbed further clear of trouble with a shock 3-0 win over
Atletico Madrid at Vicente Calderon.
Salomon Rondon set Malaga on their way with the opener after 29 minutes and Julio Baptista added a second on 35 minutes.
Enzo Maresca made the game safe for Malaga with a third goal six minutes from time.
Hercules remain in trouble after going down 3-2 at home to
Racing Santander.
Henrique Buss' goal on the stroke of half-time gave Santander the points.
Tottenham loan star Giovani dos Santos twice put Racing but Hercules replied through Sendoa Aguirre and Tiago Gomes only for Buss to grab the winner.
Deportivo La Coruna earned a crucial point in their battle against relegation after a 2-2 draw at
Sporting Gijon.
Adrian Lopez twice gave Deportivo the lead, but they pegged back by two penalties from Yoze Garcia and David Barral.
