Real top La Liga as Ronaldo scores
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Our hero. Ronaldo's league leading 16th of the season put Real back on top of the Primera Liga.
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MADRID, Spain (Reuters) -- Ronaldo scored his 16th league goal of the season to help take Real Madrid back to the top of the Spanish Primera Liga on Saturday with a 2-1 home win over Villarreal.
Argentine midfielder Santiago Solari, playing in place of the injured Zinedine Zidane, opened the scoring after 14 minutes, squeezing a shot under the body of Villarreal keeper Pepe Reina.
Ronaldo struck nine minutes after the break as he swept in a Guti pass.
Sergio Ballesteros headed in from a corner four minutes from time to give Villarreal hope, but Real held on to extend their perfect home record in the league this season.
Victory for Real took them back above Valencia at the top with 46 points from 21 games. Valencia, with 44 points and a game in hand, will have to win at home to sixth-placed Osasuna on Sunday to reclaim top spot.
Ronaldo picked up the thigh strain in Wednesday's 3-0 Spanish Cup win over Valencia, but he was still capable of unleashing a vicious shot from 20 meters.
Carlos Queiroz preferred not to single out his star Brazilian for praise - but the Real coach could scarely contain his glee at an outstanding performance which will help silence a recent volley of criticism.
"Real were playing like a team, compact and dominating. We've shown our rivals that it will be very difficult to get a point at the Bernabeu," said the Portuguese coach.
Queiroz did have a few special words for England captain David Beckham, just three days after he was given his marching orders against Valencia.
"His work rate was fantastic. Everybody is enjoying what he does as part of the squad."
Real have now won all 11 of their league games in the Bernabeu this season and were in the driving seat from the outset, although fifth-placed Villarreal didn't lack ambition and contributed to an entertaining game.
Real's local rivals Atletico lost their chance to keep pace with the league leaders when they could only draw 1-1 at struggling Albacete but stay in fourth place thanks to Villarreal's loss.
Atletico opened the scoring when Nano Maceda scored direct from a free kick after 32 minutes, although the ball was helped on its way into the net with two deflections off Albacete players.
Albacete got their equalizer just before the hour when Atletico defender Matias Lequi turned a Libero Parri cross into his own net.
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