Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 400th competitive goal for Real Madrid as the title hopefuls took control of their LaLiga clash with Sevilla at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo, Real’s all-time record goalscorer, slotted into an empty net in the 23rd minute after visiting goalkeeper Sergio Rico had parried a shot to reach another milestone for the Spanish giants – in just his 391st appearance.
23' GOOOOOOOOOOAL by @Cristiano!!! GET IN!#RealMadrid 2-0 @SevillaFC_ENG #RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/sM8WsBat96
— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) May 14, 2017
The Portugal star’s strike helped Real establish a 2-0 half-time lead over Sevilla after Nacho Fernandez had given Zinedine Zidane’s side a 10th-minute lead with a controversial quickly-taken free-kick.
Real came into the penultimate weekend of the Spanish season level on 84 points with Barcelona but boasting a game in hand on the defending champions.
That match in hand will be played on Wednesday against a Celta Vigo side who suffered another body blow earlier on Sunday when they were beaten 3-1 by Copa del Rey finalists Alaves.
⚽️ @jamesdrodriguez saw his shot parried and @Cristiano was there to steer home the rebound! VAMOS REAL!!!
— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) May 14, 2017
Celta went into the game having been agonisingly dumped out of the Europa League semi-finals by Manchester United on Thursday and also on a four-game losing streak in LaLiga.
And that became five successive losses as in-form Alaves scored three times in the opening 37 minutes, Manu Garcia making the most of a defensive mistake to put the hosts ahead early on before Zouhair Feddal and Deyverson also got on the scoresheet.
Iago Aspas pulled a goal back from the penalty spot with 12 minutes to go but it was not enough to prevent Celta from suffering a seventh league defeat in eight matches.