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Ronaldo at the double to give Madrid victory over Eibar

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Barcelona: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to help Real Madrid win 2-1 at Eibar in La Liga on Saturday.


Ronaldo now has 18 league goals this season and has scored 17 goals in the last 10 games in all competitions.


Third-placed Madrid took the lead on 35 minutes after Ronaldo finished past Marko Dmitrovic from Luka Modric’s fine pass.


Eibar levelled five minutes into the second half with Ivan Ramis heading in Pedro Leon’s cross.


But Ronaldo had the last word with a bullet header from a Dani Carvajal cross six minutes from time.


Asked about Ronaldo, Madrid midfielder Casemiro said: “We have to just enjoy him. He’s the best in the world and it’s a pleasure to play alongside him.”


Zinedine Zidane added: “He’s from another galaxy.”


The coach was delighted with the win after the Champions League victory against Paris Saint-Germain in mid-week.


“It means a lot to win here after what we did in Paris. In the first 20 minutes we couldn’t get out of our half but we came through,” he said.


Eibar have made their 6,000 capacity stadium a fortress this season and Casemiro added: “We worked hard but that is what you have to do to win here.


“We are on a good run. We played brilliant in midweek but it was important to keep that going.”


Eibar keeper Dmitrovic said: “We would like to have taken more from the game but they have shown why they are among the best teams in the world. “They don’t need much of a chance and they make you pay. Both their goals come from us having chances at the other end and them counter-attacking. It’s the worst way to concede.”


Later on Saturday Sevilla lost 2-0 at home to Valencia, perhaps waving goodbye to their hopes of the top-four finish that guarantees Champions League football next season.


Rodrigo Moreno scored both the goals for fourth-placed Valencia, who are now 11 points clear of fifth-placed Sevilla.


Moreno said: “Nothing is decided yet but this was a fundamental victory for us over our closest rival.”


Later Getafe play Levante and Malaga are home to leaders Barcelona who will be without Lionel Messi, absent from the squad after the birth of his son. — dpa


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