Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice in Real Madrid's 4-0 win at Eibar
Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice in Real Madrid's 4-0 win at Eibar
Ronaldo scored for the 19th and 20th time in the Spanish league this season after setting up Madrid's opening goal in a 4-0 win at Eibar to stay top of the table.

Barcelona: Cristiano Ronaldo scored for the 19th and 20th time in the Spanish league this season after setting up Real Madrid's opening goal in a 4-0 win Saturday at Eibar to stay top of the table.

Ronaldo has scored in all 11 league matches he has played in this campaign and has 25 goals from 18 games in all competitions. The Ballon d'Or holder passed from an apparent offside position for James Rodriguez to head in Madrid's first goal in the 23rd minute.

Madrid resisted the push by their hosts until Ronaldo put the result beyond doubt two minutes before half-time. Karim Benzema added a third goal from Rodriguez's pass in the 69th before Ronaldo got his second from the penalty spot in the 83rd.

Madrid's 14th consecutive win in all competitions kept them four points ahead of Atletico Madrid after the defending champions beat Malaga 3-1 at home.

Barcelona trail Madrid by five points before hosting Sevilla later. Also, former Manchester United coach David Moyes makes his debut in charge of Real Sociedad at Deportivo La Coruna.

Eibar started strongly by taking their up-tempo attack to the European champions, but Ronaldo showed why he is considered a strong candidate to again win the world player of the year award.

Eibar forwards Manuel del Moral and Ander Capa both had scoring chances before Madrid settled down and almost went in front through Gareth Bale's vicious free kick in the 16th.

Ronaldo helped to put Madrid ahead when he used some fancy dribbling to make his way down the right side of the area and then stretched to send Karim Benzema's pass across the goalmouth where Rodriguez was alone to head home.

Eibar didn't fade, however, and Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas had to make an excellent save with his leg to deny Saul Berjon after Capa placed a low cross behind the defense in the 31st.

Madrid's Sergio Ramos and Bale went close as the first half continued at a frenetic pace, and Ronaldo slotted a shot inside the post after Dani Carvajal combined with Bale to break down Eibar's defense.

Madrid held possession for long stretches in the second half to tire Eibar but their last two goals came after questionable decisions.

Televised replays showed the ball had gone out of bounds before Rodriguez passed back for Benzema to fire his goal into the corner of the net.

Ronaldo polished off the win from the spot after Eibar defender Raul Albentosa used his arm to protect his face on a free kick and was called for a handball.

"It's normal that the referee makes more mistakes that favor Madird than Eibar," goalkeeper Xabi Irureta claimed.

Defender Fabio Coentrao went on as a late Madrid substitute after a long absence because of a leg injury.

In Madrid, Tiago Cardoso scored and set up another goal as Atletico ended 10-man Malaga's winning streak.

Tiago's header from a corner kick in the 12th put the hosts in front before Arda Turan crossed for Antoine Griezmann to make it 2-0 in the 42nd.

Malaga arrived after a club record five straight wins but Atletico denied the visitors a scoring chance until Roque Santa Cruz struck in the 64th.

Malaga went down to 10 men when Samuel Garcia received his second yellow card in the 73rd, and Diego Godin headed in Tiago's lobbed pass in the 84th.

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