Ronaldo leads Real in rout
(Sports Network)
Updated: 2004-11-29 09:34

Real Madrid's 'galacticos' dominated Sunday at the Bernabeu in a 5-0 demolition of Levante.

Ronaldo scored twice and Luis Figo, David Beckham and Michael Owen each added goals for Real, which moved back into second place seven points back of Barcelona. Real rebounded from a 3-0 loss to Barca last weekend in La Liga action and a disappointing Champions League draw earlier this week.

Real Madrid's Brazilian scorer Ronaldo (R) celebrates his second goal against Levante with his British team mate David Beckham during their First Division soccer match at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium November 28, 2004. [Reuters]

Levante, newcomers to La Liga this season, were able to keep the game scoreless until just before halftime. That is when Ronaldo struck for the first of his two goals and opened the floodgates. Figo, Ronaldo and Beckham each scored in the first nine minutes of the second half to turn the match into a rout.

The big lead allowed Mariano Garcia Remon to give some of his top players rest at the end of the match. Real was already without Zinedine Zidane and must keep in mind its huge Champions League match on December 8 in Roma.

Valencia, meanwhile, won its second straight league match, 2-0 over Mallorca, to move back into fourth place 10 points behind Barcelona. The win was the second straight in league play for Valencia -- which also won a huge midweek Champions League match -- on the heels of a six-match winless streak.

Ruben Baraja and Emiliano Moretti scored as the defending league champions ruined Hector Cuper's return to the Mestalla. The former Valencia midfielder watched his team drop to the bottom of the La Liga table with the loss.

Deportivo La Coruna blew a two-goal lead Sunday and could only manage one points against Real Sociedad. Alberto Luque and Pedro Menitis scored early in the contest, but Darko Kovacevic and Nihat helped the visitors even the score.

Sevilla fell further down after a 4-1 at Osasuna. Inaki Munoz, Pierre Webo, Ricardo Morales and Moha scored for the home side in the victory. Osasuna is now in seventh place in the table, just one spot behind Sevilla.

In other La Liga action, Albacete posted a 2-0 decision at Malaga behind goals from Laurent Viaud and Momo. Numancia and Real Betis both picked up 2-1 home victories in league action on Sunday. Numancia slipped past Real Zaragoza and Real Betis edged Villareal.

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