Ronaldo double helps Real heap pressure on Barca

Real Madrid heaped the pressure on league leaders Barcelona when Ronaldo helped himself to a classy double in a 2-0 win at Levante in the Primera Liga on Sunday.

The Brazilian grabbed his first when he smashed in from six metres out shortly before the break and took his total for the season to 15 when he scored a superb solo effort late in the second.

Real also had keeper Iker Casillas to thank for a victory that left them three points behind Barca, who host Getafe in Sunday's late game.

Earlier Villarreal dropped their first points at home in nine matches when they were held to a 0-0 draw by fellow high-flyers Real Betis.

The result left Villarreal fourth in the table, level on 52 points with Sevilla but with a game in hand. The Andalucians lost 1-0 at home to Osasuna on Saturday but are third by virtue of their better head-to-head record.

Real, who cut Barcelona's lead at the top of the table to six points with their 4-2 win over their arch-rivals at the Bernabeu last weekend, were given a tough time of it by Levante in the opening minutes.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Alberto Rivera was denied an early goal by a spectacular one-handed save from Casillas when his shot ballooned off a defender towards the top corner.

Real did not manage to create a chance until the 24th minute when Michael Owen forced a fine full-stretch save from keeper Juan Luis Mora with a sharp shot after latching on to a pass from England colleague David Beckham.

Although Levante put together some neat passing moves in the centre of midfield, Real needed just one more opportunity to snatch the lead.

Full back Michel Salgado burst down the right wing, cut inside to the area and fired in a cross to Ronaldo who pulled away from his marker before swinging a firm right-foot shot past Mora.

Casillas then produced a sharp block to stop a fierce drive from defender Pablo Pinillos and then made a brilliant recovery to get his hand to a goal-bound shot from Vladimir Manchev after the Bulgarian striker had appeared to have skipped round him at the near post.

Levante had several more scoring chances midway through the second half but it was Ronaldo who put an end to any hopes of a comeback when he struck again seven minutes from time.

Latching on to a first-time pass from substitute Luis Figo, the Brazilian charged down the centre of the pitch, outpaced defender Jesule, swerved past Mora and guided the ball into the empty net.

At the other end of the table, basement club Numancia were left teetering on the brink of relegation after a crushing 4-1 defeat at Real Zaragoza.