MADRID (Reuters) – Real Madrid followed up Tuesday’s Champions League success at Manchester United by climbing above beaten city rivals Atletico into second in La Liga when Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice in a 2-1 win at second-bottom Celta Vigo on Sunday.

Ronaldo netted the goal that sent Real through to the last eight of Europe’s elite club competition at the expense of his former club and his latest double took his league tally for the season to 26, 14 behind top scorer Lionel Messi of Barcelona.

MADRID, March 11 (Reuters) – Lionel Messi has often said personal accolades are secondary to the fortunes of the team and Barcelona’s Argentina forward would probably swap all four of his World Player of the Year awards for a comeback success against AC Milan on Tuesday.

Barca’s hopes of a third Champions League crown in five years are hanging by a thread after Milan surprised them 2-0 at the San Siro in last month’s last-16, first leg.

MADRID (Reuters) – Real Madrid followed up Tuesday’s Champions League success at Manchester United with a victory in La Liga when Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice in a laboured 2-1 win at second-from-bottom Celta Vigo on Sunday.

Ronaldo netted the goal that sent Real through to the last eight of Europe’s elite club competition at the expense of his former club and his latest double took his league tally for the season to 26, 14 behind top scorer Lionel Messi of Barcelona.

MADRID, March 10 (Reuters) – Real Madrid followed up Tuesday’s Champions League success at Manchester United with a victory in La Liga when Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice in a laboured 2-1 win at second-from-bottom Celta Vigo on Sunday.

Ronaldo netted the goal that sent Real through to the last eight of Europe’s elite club competition at the expense of his former club and his latest double took his league tally for the season to 26, 14 behind top scorer Lionel Messi of Barcelona.

MADRID (Reuters) – Lionel Messi came off the bench and scored a stunning goal to seal a 2-0 home win for Barcelona over bottom club Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday that stretched their lead at the top of La Liga to 14 points.

With an eye on AC Milan’s visit in the Champions League on Tuesday, Barca left World Player of the Year Messi and five Spanish internationals out of their starting lineup at the Nou Camp.

MADRID, March 9 (Reuters) – Lionel Messi came off the bench and scored a stunning goal to seal a 2-0 home win for Barcelona over bottom club Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday that stretched their lead at the top of La Liga to 14 points.

With an eye on AC Milan’s visit in the Champions League on Tuesday, Barca left World Player of the Year Messi and five Spanish internationals out of their starting lineup at the Nou Camp.

MADRID (Reuters) – Iker Casillas should have recovered from a fractured hand within the next couple of weeks but the Real Madrid goalkeeper and captain may find himself warming the bench given the fine form of replacement Diego Lopez.

Casillas sustained the injury during a King’s Cup game against Valencia in January when team mate Alvaro Arbeloa kicked his hand while trying to clear the ball.

MADRID, March 9 (Reuters) – Iker Casillas should have recovered from a fractured hand within the next couple of weeks but the Real Madrid goalkeeper and captain may find himself warming the bench given the fine form of replacement Diego Lopez.

Casillas sustained the injury during a King’s Cup game against Valencia in January when team mate Alvaro Arbeloa kicked his hand while trying to clear the ball.

MADRID (Reuters) – The last thing struggling Deportivo La Coruna need with three crucial matches against fellow relegation candidates looming is a trip to face wounded La Liga leaders Barcelona on Saturday (7:00 p.m British time).

The cash-strapped Galician club, one of the most successful sides in Europe around a decade ago, are rooted to the bottom of the table and apparently doomed to go straight back down after spending the 2011-12 season in the second division.

MADRID, March 7 (Reuters) – The last thing struggling Deportivo La Coruna need with three crucial matches against fellow relegation candidates looming is a trip to face wounded La Liga leaders Barcelona on Saturday (1900 GMT).

The cash-strapped Galician club, one of the most successful sides in Europe around a decade ago, are rooted to the bottom of the table and apparently doomed to go straight back down after spending the 2011-12 season in the second division.