La Liga wrap: Ronaldo fires Real, Zaragoza sneak late win

Ten-man Real Madrid stayed in touch with pacesetters Barcelona on the La Liga table with a 3-2 away win over Getafe on Monday.

Star midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for the visitors at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, while German prodigy Mesut Ozil scored the other as Jose Mourinho’s side moved to within two points of the Catalans.

It was not all smooth sailing for Real, however, after Alvaro Arbeloa received his second yellow card in the 82nd minute.

Getafe substitute Juan Albin ensured a tense finish for the visitors when he scored in the 85th minute, to add to Parejo’s 29th minute goal for the home side.

But Real held on to maintain their stranglehold on second place, eight points clear of Villarreal in third.

Real Zaragoza climbed off the bottom of the La Liga standings with a last-gasp 2-1 win over Real Sociedad.

Florent Sinama Pongolle gave Zaragoza the lead in the 10th minute, before Xabi Prieto restored parity for Sociedad in the 33rd minute.

But Zaragoza striker Braulio had the final say in proceedings, striking a 90th minute winner to move his side into 18th on the table, though they remain in the relegation zone.

It was Sociedad’s third consecutive league loss, and the club has slipped to 11th spot on the table.

Mallorca snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory over Hercules at Iberostar Estadi.

Emilio Nsue, Victor Castano and Michael Pereira all scored for the hosts in the runaway victory, with Nsue also adding a pair of assists to his goal.

Villarreal accounted for relegation candidates Almeria 2-0, with Jose Manuel Catala and Borja Valero scoring the goals at Camp El Madrigal.

And Atletico Madrid were held to a 0-0 draw by Racing Santander, keeping Quique Sanchez Flores’ side in sixth place while Santander are six points clear of the relegation zone in 14th.