300 up for Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 300th Real Madrid goal as the European champions remained four points adrift of La Liga leaders Barcelona with a 2-0 win at Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday.

Earlier, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were on target as Barca eased past Almeria 4-0.

Barca took over half an hour to make the breakthrough, but Messi did so in style as he curled home his 44th goal of the season into the far corner.

Suarez made the game safe when he fired into the top corner 10 minutes after the break and bagged his second of the evening in stoppage time after Marc Bartra headed home the third from Xavi's corner.

Madrid suffered a much more uncomfortable evening in a capital derby at Rayo before Ronaldo and James Rodriguez struck midway through the second-half.

Rayo dominated the first period in terms of possession, but it was still Madrid who had the better chances as Rodriguez shot straight at Diego Cobeno when unmarked inside the area before Ronaldo headed over from the Colombian's free-kick.

At the other end, Iker Casillas made a fine save to keep the visitors level at the break as he parried Roberto Trashorras's back post header to safety.

Madrid started much stronger after the break and were inches away from an opener when Gareth Bale's header from Rodriguez's cross looped just wide.

There was then a huge moment of controversy when Ronaldo was booked despite appearing to be clearly brought down by Antonio Amaya inside the area meaning he will miss Saturday's visit of Eibar to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The chances continued to come and go for Real as Benzema, Marcelo and Bale fired just off target in a matter of minutes, and the goal finally arrived when a fine run and cross from Dani Carvajal picked out Ronaldo and he sealed his triple century of goals for Madrid in just 288 games.

Six minutes later it was 2-0 as Ronaldo turned provider this time for Rodriguez to curl home his first goal since returning from a two-month layoff with a foot injury.

Barcelona also started slowly at the Camp Nou as boss Luis Enrique made six changes with one eye on Saturday's tough trip to Sevilla.

However, Messi opened the scoring in brilliant fashion when he found space on the edge of the area and curled into the far corner with pinpoint accuracy.

Suarez made sure of Barca's 20th win in their last 21 games in all competitions with a little help from Cuesta the keeper got a hand to the Uruguayan's powerful effort but couldn't keep it out.

Results 
Barcelona 4 (Messi 33, Suarez 55, 90+3, Bartra 75) Almeria 0
Deportivo la Coruna 1 (Florin 87-og)
Cordoba 1 (Florin 55)
Granada 1 (Ibanez 3) Celta Vigo 1 (Bongonda 90+3)
Rayo Vallecano 0 Real Madrid 2 (Ronaldo 67, Rodriguez 73)