Barcelona: James Rodriguez scored a stunning goal to lead Real Madrid to a 3-0 win over Almeria on Wednesday that kept his side two points behind leader Barcelona in the final stretch of the Spanish league title race.
Rodriguez snapped Madrid out of their lethargic first-half performance by volleying home a long-range strike seconds before the break at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Almeria defender Mauro Dos Santos deflected a pass meant for Cristiano Ronaldo into his own goal in the 49th, and defender Alvaro Arbeloa sealed the win from Javier Hernandez's pass six minutes from time.
With four rounds left, Madrid next face a tough visit at Sevilla on Saturday, while Barcelona play at last-place Cordoba. Then both title rivals will turn to first-leg semifinals in the Champions League when Madrid visits Juventus and Barcelona hosts Bayern Munich next week.
"We are now in a very important period of the season, and each game is important," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "I will field the best lineup I can at Sevilla, even though we will then play at Juventus because it will be the match that matters the most."
Sevilla extended their undefeated streak to 10 rounds after Carlos Bacca and Jose Antonio Reyes shone in their 3-1 win at Eibar on Wednesday, while Celta Vigo needed Manuel "Nolito" Agudo's 89th-minute winner to edge Malaga 1-0 at home.
Depleted by injuries to Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric, Madrid turned to Rodriguez to guide their attack. Ancelotti said that Bale may return to training on Thursday and he hopes Benzema will be ready for Juventus.
Almeria defended well through the first 44 minutes, slowing down Madrid and limiting the hosts to a Rodriguez header that missed in the fourth minute before Ronaldo struck two free kicks high.
Madrid looked set to take the stalemate into half-time when Rodriguez rushed forward to pounce on a clearance that fell outside the area and smashed a blistering strike over goalkeeper Ruben Martinez.
It was the Colombia midfielder's 16th goal in his first season with the defending European champions.
Madrid's dip in form early this year that cost it the league lead to Barcelona came when Rodriguez was sidelined with a fractured right foot. Without him, Ancelotti's team had four wins, one draw and four losses. Since his return, they have won seven games and drawn one, with Rodriguez scoring four times in the last five rounds.
Reyes set Sevilla on their way in the seventh minute at Eibar with a superb pass that left Bacca alone to dribble goalie Xabi Irureta before tapping the ball home.
Bacca then added his 19th league goal of the season in the 15th.
Federico Piovaccari pulled one back for the Basque side in the 51st, only for Bacca to assist Reyes in the 64th.
Sevilla moved into fourth place and the last Champions League spot, one point ahead of Valencia before they play at Rayo Vallecano on Thursday.
Eibar, who have only one win in their last 16 games, were left level on points with Almeria just above the relegation zone.
Third-place Atletico Madrid, soon to be dethroned by either Barcelona or Madrid, visit Villarreal later, while Elche play Deportivo La Coruna.
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