MADRID, March 10, (Agencies): Real Madrid registered their sixth consecutive victory in all competitions as two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo led them to a 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo. Despite dominating for long spells in the first-half, Madrid couldn’t find a way past Celta goalkeeper Javi Varas until just after the hour mark when Ronaldo swept home a loose ball from close range. The lead lasted barely two minutes as Iago Aspas’s deflected effort wrong-footed Diego Lopez to bring Celta level. However, for all his good work in the first-half, Varas was at fault for the winner as he clipped Kaka inside the area and Ronaldo stepped up to smash home the penalty for his 40th goal of the season.

Jose Mourinho again choose to rotate his side after their 2-1 victory against Manchester United in midweek with only Lopez, Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil and Ronaldo retaining their places in the side.
And Celta took advantage of Madrid’s makeshift defence early on as Lopez had to be quick off his line to deny Aspas in the first minute.
The Madrid keeper was then forced into two good saves in quick succession as again Aspas got in behind the Madrid defence and after his low drive had been turned behind, Lopez had to get down well to prevent Alex Lopez’s deflected shot creeping in at his left-hand post.
Slowly, though, the visitors started to take a stranglehold of the game and only a host of saves from Varas prevented them going into the break with a comfortable lead. Ronaldo was first to test the Celta stopper with a low drive from distance before Karim Benzema shot straight at Varas after skillfully weaving a way through the Celta defence.
 

Varas did well again to repel Marcelo’s low drive after the Brazilian had been released by a wonderful pass from Khedira 10 minutes before the break and even when the Celta keeper did make a mistake, Madrid couldn’t take advantage as Raul Albiol skied over after Varas had flapped at a corner.
The chances continued to flow for Madrid, though, as Jose Maria Callejon also failed to beat Varas when he should have scored and even Ronaldo couldn’t find a way through as he crashed a header off the bar from Benzema’s cross four minutes before half-time.
Xabi Alonso was introduced for Khedira at the break and with the Spanish international orchestrating in midfield, Madrid continued to create plenty of chances.
Benzema was again denied by Varas with a bending shot from inside the area before Marcelo blazed over after being brilliantly played in by Alonso.
The goal finally arrived for the visitors 16 minutes into the second-half as Ronaldo pounced on a loose ball inside the area after Callejon’s shot had been blocked.
Meanwhile, in Barcelona, Spain, Lionel Messi extended his Spanish league record by scoring in 17 straight games to cap Barcelona’s 2-0 win over last-place Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.

Messi started on the Camp Nou bench with several other first-choice players, saved for the decisive Champions League last-16 match against AC Milan, but went on in the second half and scored two minutes from time with a delicate chip shot to double Barcelona’s lead after Alexis Sanchez opened in the 38th.
It was the four-time world player of the year’s league-leading 40th goal of the season and 51st overall.
Barcelona hosts Milan on Tuesday, facing the daunting challenge of overturning a 2-0 loss in their first meeting to keep alive its bid for a fourth European title in eight seasons.
“Every competition is distinct, and Tuesday will be an entirely different story,” said Barcelona assistant coach Jordi Roura. “But there is no doubt that the best way to get ready for a match is having won the previous game.”
Barcelona’s 12th win in 13 league home games provisionally extended its league lead to 14 points over Atletico Madrid.
“We have the league title in our hands and we are not going to let it slip away,” Alexis said.
Meanwhile, Malaga’s winless run reached four consecutive games with a 1-1 draw at Valladolid as it continues to sputter before its Champions League match against FC Porto on Wednesday when it must come back from a 1-0 loss.

Messi on Barcelona’s bench was a rare sight as he rested up for Milan. It was just the second time he didn’t start a league game this season. In September, he went on late to score twice in a 4-1 win at Getafe. The only regular starters on the pitch for Barcelona were defenders Carles Puyol and Dani Alves and midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Jose Pinto had a quiet night in goal after stepping in to replace Victor Valdes, who was serving the first of a four-match ban for protesting after the finish of Barcelona’s 2-1 loss at Real Madrid last weekend.
Even with the lineup shuffle, the 51-point gap separating the two sides at the start of the game was evident. Barcelona dominated possession and broke its negative streak of conceding a goal in 13 matches in a row as Deportivo failed to get a shot on target through 90 minutes.
In Madrid, Valencia missed a chance to climb above Malaga and Real Betis into fourth place in La Liga when they were beaten 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Eliminated from the Champions League at Paris St Germain on Wednesday, the defeat dents the cash-strapped club’s chances of securing a lucrative place in Europe’s elite club competition for next season.

Bilbao forward Iker Muniain clipped home a loose ball in the 80th minute to put the home side ahead at a vibrant San Mames stadium. Valencia substitute Roberto Soldado had a chance to level minutes later but somehow scooped the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
The defeat leaves Ernesto Valverde’s side in sixth on 42 points, one behind Betis and two adrift of Malaga, who occupy Spain’s fourth Champions League berth.
Bilbao, who have had a miserable season after reaching the final of the Europa League and the King’s Cup last term, are 14th on 32 points.