Ronaldo almost single-handedly dealt Sevilla its first loss at home in 35 consecutive games going back to February 2014 with a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. Barcelona leads Madrid by two points with three games left to decide which replaces Atletico Madrid as champion. Ronaldo's three goals took his league-leading tally to 42, keeping the Ballon d'Or holder ahead of Messi with his 40 goals, as the two stars vie to finish the league as top scorer. Sevilla held its own and traded scoring opportunities with Jose Antonio Reyes leading its attack until holding midfielder Gregorz Krychowiak smashed his face into the back of Sergio Ramos' head, causing his nose to bleed profusely. The Polish player went to the sideline to receive treatment in the 30th minute and when he returned 10 minutes later Madrid has winning by two goals. Ronaldo scored them both against the undermanned defense, first heading home Francisco "Isco" Alarcon's cross in the 36th before he acrobatically dove to stab in a ball flicked on by Javier Hernandez a minute later. Back to full strength, Sevilla mustered a push before halftime that yielded a penalty for Carlos Bacca to convert in injury time after Ramos fouled Aleix Vidal. Gareth Bale returned from a left-leg injury in the 66th and three minutes later sent in a cross to the far post that Ronaldo scored with a brilliant header to lift the ball over goalkeeper Sergio Rico from a tight angle. Substitute Vicente Iborra slotted in short pass from Vidal to boost Sevilla's hopes of a comeback in the 79th, and Unai Emery's team grazed the equalizer when Denis Suarez's effort squirmed by the post with five to play. Elsewhere, Atletico was held to 0-0 at home by Athletic Bilbao as the soon-to-be-dethroned titleholders remained in third place at 11 points adrift. Villarreal visited Deportivo La Coruna late. (For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/129204.aspx
