Barcelona: Cristiano Ronaldo scored a superb back-heeled goal to give Real Madrid a hard-fought 1-0 win at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, keeping the team on track for its first Spanish league title in four years.
After Vallecano had outplayed their crosstown rivals in the first half, Ronaldo pounced on a loose ball in the area and flicked it through a pack of defenders with his back to the net in the 54th minute to take his league-leading tally to 29 goals.
Rayo mustered a late push but missed a pair of clear chances to level late as Real held on to win their ninth straight away game in a league that they are dominating.
The victory left Jose Mourinho's team 13 points clear of defending champion Barcelona, who have a tough test later Sunday at an Atletico Madrid team rejuvenated under new coach Diego Simeone.
Rayo showed why they are having the best season of the three promoted teams in Spain with more scoring chances throughout the match until Ronaldo's brilliance proved too much.
Rea; striker Gonzalo Higuain started an away game for the first time since early December with Karim Benzema out because of a right leg muscle injury.
But the Argentina international rarely saw the ball as Rayo carried the initiative led by striker Diego Costa, a winter transfer from Atletico Madrid who drew a yellow card from Sergio Ramos three minutes in.
Rayo, who started with a three-game winning streak, held the visitors at Vallecas stadium to a shot by Higuain and a pair of long blasts by Ronaldo that bounced wide in the first half.
Rayo's pressure almost paid off minutes before halftime when Francisco "Piti" Medina latched onto a pass, cut back and sent a rising shot off the post.
After the break Real gained control and soon went ahead for good when Ronaldo netted his 37th goal in all competitions this season.
Yet after Real failed to finish off the game with a second goal, the game swung back in Rayo's favor to keep the result in doubt until the final whistle.
Miguel "Michu" Perez slipped while shooting and sent the ball high in the 73rd after Ramos had lost the ball in his area, and two minutes later Jose Casado's long blast forced goalkeeper Iker Casillas to stretch and tip the ball wide.
Michu was shown a direct red card for a tackle on Sami Khedira in the dying moments before Emiliano Armenteros had a great chance to equalize but failed to convert in front of an open net.
Earlier, Nilmar scored his first goal in five months to secure Villarreal a 2-2 home draw with Athletic Bilbao.
Villarreal's eighth straight home game without a loss moved them three points clear of the drop, while Bilbao rose to fifth place — one point behind Levante in fourth.
Also later on Sunday, it's: Valencia vs. Sevilla; Osasuna vs. Granada; and Real Sociedad vs. Mallorca.
On Saturday, it was: Racing Santander 1, Sporting Gijon 1; Real Betis 1, Getafe 1; Malaga 5, Zaragoza 1; and Espanyol 1, Levante 2.
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