Ronaldo off injured as Real Madrid beats Almeria

Real Madrid cruised to a comfortable win away to Almeria, but paid a price for their victory as Cristiano Ronaldo was forced out of the game with a muscle injury.

Ronaldo had opened the scoring in what turned into a comfortable 5-0 win for Real Madrid, in the fourth minute of the game as he collected a cross and scored with a smart flick, but he immediately asked to be substituted after crossing the ball in the 51st minute of the game, Xinhua reported Saturday.

The absence of the player who has now scored 17 times in the BBVA Primera Liga didn't adversely affect his side as Karim Benzema made it 2-0 after 61 minutes, while Gareth Bale took advantage of a defensive error to make it 3-0 and Isco added a fourth with quarter of an hour remaining.

That meant there was time for Alvaro Morata to add a fifth with a smart chip over Almeria keeper, Esteban in a match where Real Madrid never looked in danger of slipping up against a side that had won its last three matches.

Coincidentally FC Barcelona striker, Leo Messi had injured himself in the same ground earlier this season.

It was a different injury which kept Messi out of his side's 4- 0 win at home to Granada earlier in the day, but despite the absence of the club's star striker and several other key players, Barca also enjoyed a tranquil afternoon.

Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabrigas both scored first half penalties to put their side 2-0 up at the break, while Alexis Sanchez with his eighth goal of the season and Pedro Rodriguez with his seventh, sealed the victory to show that even without Messi life goes on as usual in the Camp Nou Stadium.

Atletico Madrid also kept up the pressure with an easy 7-0 win at home to local rivals, Getafe despite the absence of Diego Costa, who began the game on the subs bench.

The game was over as a contest four minutes into the second half, thanks to two goals from Raul Garcia, an own goal from Alvaro Lopo and a finish from David Villa.

Costa came on as a substitute and added a fifth with a spectacular overhead kick as Atletico created chance after chance and Villa's second goal of the night made it 6-0 and Adrian Lopez added a seventh in the last minute of a game where Getafe played for around an hour with 10 men after Juan Valera was sent off and failed to manage a single shot on goal.

Carlos Vela was the hero in Anoeta as he scored all four goals in his side's thrilling 4-3 win against Celta Vigo.

Celta had been leading 3-1 thanks to two goals from Rafinho and a fine finish from Alex Lopez, but the Mexican's display earned his side three points while leaving Celta struggling close to the bottom of the table.