Primera Liga round-up

Real had to come from behind to secure the win after Levante stunned the home side by taking the lead after just five minutes through Gustavo Cabral.

Real were awarded a penalty right on the stroke of half-time when Vicente Iborra was sent off for handling the ball inside the box and Ronaldo scored from the spot.

Ronaldo gave Real the lead for the first time five minutes after the break when he headed home Gonzalo Higuain's right-wing cross.

Portuguese ace Ronaldo completed his hat-trick and his sixth of the season on 57 minutes with a stunning dipping shot over Levante keeper Gustavo Munua.

Levante refused to lie down and pulled a goal back on 63 minutes when Arouna Kone headed home Oscar Serrano's inviting cross.

Karim Benzema made the game safe three minutes later when he cut inside and curled a superb shot past Munua to move a step closer to the title.

Valencia consolidated their grip on third spot with a convincing 4-0 win over struggling Sporting Gijon at La Mestalla.

Sofiane Feghouli fired Valencia in front on 33 minutes, and an Alberto Botia own goal 17 minutes from time doubled Valencia's advantage.

Valencia wrapped the win up with Jonas Oliveira scoring twice in injury-time.

Malaga climbed to seventh in the table after a 3-1 victory over Real Mallorca at La Rosaleda.

Michael Pereira put the visitors ahead with the game less than four minutes old but Seba Fernandez equalised soon after for Malaga.

Jeremy Toulalan then put the hosts in front in the second half and Salomon Rondon sealed the win with a third goal on 67 minutes.

Villarreal climbed out of the bottom three with a hard-fought 3-1 win over fellow strugglers Granada at El Madrigal.

Marco Ruben's 16th-minute strike gave the home side a half-time lead against the run of play, but Inigo Lopez levelled with a header five minutes after half-time.

Borja Valero restored Villarreal's lead, though, before Granada goalkeeper Julio Cesar diverted Joan Oriol's cross into his own goal to end his side's hopes of a comeback.

Basement boys Real Zaragoza secured their first win since October with a shock 2-0 success at Espanyol.

Paulo da Silva broke the deadlock for Zaragoza ten minutes into the second half and Juan Carlos put the game beyond Espanyol with a second goal in stoppage time.

Rayo Vallecano overcame Getafe 2-0 in their derby meeting.

Rayo took control of the contest on 33 minutes when Michu found the net and Getafe were reduced to ten men just past the hour mark when Michel was somewhat harshly shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Diego Costa.

Costa sealed the win on 64 minutes when he headed home Jose Luis Movilla's cross.