Gonzalo Higuain scored a goal of the season contender as Real Madrid kept up their pursuit of Barcelona with a 5-1 win over Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The visitors had taken a shock lead through Michel just after the half-hour mark, but their lead only lasted five minutes as Higuain swivelled brilliantly to volley in Xabi Alonso’s cross.
Kaka then put the hosts ahead before the break from the penalty spot and Cristiano Ronaldo made the game safe with his 29th league goal of the season six minutes from time.
Substitute Mesut Ozil twice scored from close range in the dying moments as Madrid cut the gap on Barca to 10 points ahead of the Catalans meeting with Mallorca later on Saturday night.
“I don’t believe in miracles, it could be possible but it is very difficult,” Ronaldo told reporters afterwards on Madrid’s chances of retaining their title.
“As it is we have to win to gain confidence for the Champions League and the cup.
“Winning always breeds confidence and this is the thought that we always have to have in mind.”
Indeed with their upcoming quarter-final return-leg against Galatasaray Jose Mourinho rested Ronaldo from the start and made six other changes to the side that beat the Turks 3-0 on Wednesday.
Sergio Ramos and Alonso were included as they will be suspended for the trip to Istanbul, whilst Iker Casillas returned to the squad for the first time in three months but only made the bench with Diego Lopez continuing in goal.
However, after a slow start Madrid were stunned on 31 minutes when Levante took the lead courtesy of the kind of clinical counter-attack that Madrid so often inflict on their opponents.
Michel carried the ball through midfield before feeding Pedro Rios down the right and when he cleverly cut the ball back, Michel took a touch before seeing his shot deflect beyond Lopez.
The goal seemed to awake Madrid and they were level five minutes later thanks to a stunning strike from Higuain.
Alonso’s measured cross found the former River Plate man free in the area, but he had to show great technique to hook the ball on the volley into Munua’s top right-hand corner.
Moments later the comeback was complete as Cristian Lell was somewhat harshly penalised for handball as the ball ricocheted around the Levante area and Kaka stepped up to score his first league goal at the Bernabeu in over a year.
Ronaldo was introduced at half-time and was quickly in the heart of the action as Real tried to kill the game off.
Benzema had a low header well held by Munua, whilst the keeper also parried a snap shot from Ronaldo and Kaka curled an effort just over.
Yet, Levante came within inches of an equaliser just before the hour mark as Roberto Aquafresca’s volley from Ruben Garcia’s cross whistled just past the post.
Munua then made a string of fine saves from Pepe, Higuain Ronaldo and Ozil to keep his side in the game.
But Ronaldo eventually sealed the three points when he volleyed home from Higuain’s cross before teeing up Ozil to slide into an empty net two minutes later.
And some fine wing-play from Angel di Maria then laid another goal on a plate for Ozil in stoppage time as Madrid rounded off a highly satisfactory week in style.
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