First Division - Day 23

Real Madrid 6 - Villarreal 2

Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Raúl Albiol, Marcelo; Granero (Van der Vaart 75'), Lass (Diarrà 84'), Xabi Alonso, Kaká (Raúl 80'); Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuaín. 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Diego López; Javi Venta, Musacchio, Marcano (Pires 55'), Capdevila; Matilla, Marcos Senna, Bruno, David Fuster (Angel 81'); Marco Rubén, Nilmar (Llorente 81'). 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 17. Cristiano Ronaldo. Long free kick from left of area in to far top corner.
2-0. 20. Kaká (penalty). After Marcano fouled Higuaín inside penalty area.
2-1. 30. Marcos Senna. Curled free kick over defensive wall inside post.
3-1. 54. Higuaín. Ran in to shoot wide of Diego López from Cristiano cross.
3-2. 66. Nilmar. Turned ball past Casillas after passing move with Pires.
4-2. 71. Higuaín. Swept shot in to net after Marcelo crossed in from left.
5-2. 79. Kaká. Picked up short Cristiano pass and fired shot past keeper.
6-2. 87. Xabi Alonso (penalty). After Pires tripped Cristiano inside area.

Yellow cards: Marcano 19', Lass 47', Higuaín 59', Javi Venta 62', Arbeloa 79'.

Real Madrid stay two points behind Barcelona after a convincing 6-2 win over Villarreal on Sunday evening. Pellegrini was heavily criticised after the midweek defeat at Lyon, but his side went two up early on, Cristiano Ronaldo firing home a long free kick and Kaká converting a penalty after Marcano fouled Higuaín in the area.

Marcos Senna pulled one back with another free kick, but a few minutes after the restart Higuaín got on the end of Cristiano Ronaldo's cross to score his side's third. Nilmar reduced the gap again after a passing move with Pires, but once again Higuaín beat Diego López after good work by Ronaldo and Marcelo.

And Ronaldo featured again in the last two goals, setting up Kaká for the fifth and then winning a second penalty which Xabi Alonso drilled home. Pellegrini can rest a little bit easier, at least for a few more days.