Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for Real Madrid as they took another step towards the La Liga title with victory over Sevilla.
Stevan Jovetic replied after the break,
but Ronaldo's sensational second strike, his 401st for Real Madrid, and Toni
Kroos' late goal sealed victory.
Real Madrid stay in second place behind
Barcelona who beat Las Palmas 4-1.
Reigning champions Barcelona, who beat Las Palmas 4-1 on Sunday, keep hold
of top spot courtesy of their head-to-head advantage.
But Real have a game in hand and need
four points from their final two matches to lift their first title since 2012.
The
home side found themselves in front after 10 minutes courtesy of Nacho's
quick-fire free-kick.
When
Marco Asensio was fouled outside the box, referee Umdiano Mallenco awarded the
free-kick and with the Sevilla defenders still remonstrating, Nacho seized the
initiative striking the ball into an unguarded net.
But
Ronaldo will take the plaudits, scoring his 400th and 401st goals for Real
Madrid in just 391 appearances, and drawing level with Jimmy Greaves on 366 as
the all-time top-scorer in the top five European leagues.
The
32-year-old's tap-in from six yards was one of the easier of his goals but his
second - a strike from a tricky angle just inside the box - matched the
occasion.
Sevilla
had their chances in the first half - Stevan Jovetic twice hit the woodwork
before forcing goalkeeper Keylor Navas into a top-class diving save.
Former
Manchester City striker Jovetic pulled one back for the visitors with a
fabulous finish minutes after the break.
But
Zinedine Zidane's side held off the nerves and will now play their game in hand
at Celta Vigo on Wednesday.
Despite
having won just three of their last 11 matches, Sevilla still secured fourth
place and a spot in the Champions League play-off next season as Villarreal
were held at home to Deportivo La Coruna.


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