Real Madrid fought back to beat Sporting Gijon 3-1 and move three points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Saturday, while fourth-placed Sevilla slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Espanyol.
Sporting stunned the Bernabeu when David Barral scored against the run of play in the 53rd minute, but it only took Manuel Pellegrini’s side two minutes to equalize.
Rafael van der Vaart and Xabi Alonso struck in quick succession before Gonzalo Higuain calmed the nerves with a superb solo effort in the 68th as Real claimed their 14th win in 14 home games this season.
They have 68 points from 27 games ahead of champions Barcelona who were to visit Real Zaragoza yesterday.
A well-organized Sporting made life difficult and there were murmurs of unrest when Barral beat goalkeeper Iker Casillas at his near post, but Real equalized almost immediately in controversial circumstances.
Van der Vaart appeared to control the ball with his hand before scoring, after Juan Pablo could only parry Cristiano Ronaldo’s free kick.
Ronaldo then made a prodigious leap and his header from a corner was nodded in at the back post by Alonso.
Argentina striker Higuain put the game beyond doubt, surging toward the area to score his 20th league goal of the campaign.
Sevilla were well beaten at lowly Espanyol, Argentine striker Pablo Osvaldo scoring a goal in each half.
Manolo Jimenez’s side lost wingers Jesus Navas and Diego Capel to injury during the game.
Athletic Bilbao climbed to sixth with 42 points, above Deportivo Coruna on goal difference, despite being held 2-2 by visiting Getafe in a stormy encounter at San Mames.
The Basque side took the lead through Pablo Orbaiz after 12 minutes before Getafe leveled through Manu Del Moral in the 32nd.
Bilbao had Orbaiz sent off soon after but went back in front with a Fernando Llorente penalty in the 78th just after Getafe were reduced to 10 men following a red card for Miguel Torres.
Pedro Leon grabbed a late equalizer for the visitors.
Valladolid won 2-0 at Deportivo while Xerez earned a 2-1 home victory over Tenerife.
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