Ronaldo sets new 41-goal record in Real win

Cristiano Ronaldo set a new La Liga scoring record and Real Madrid equalled the highest ever season goal tally as they came from behind to beat Sporting Gijon 3-1 and open a seven-point lead over Barcelona. Ronaldo hit his 41st goal of the season, beating his own record of goals in a season set last year to put Real in front 2-1 in the 73rd minute. A Sergio Ramos handball had seen Miguel Angel De las Cuevas put Sporting ahead from the penalty spot before Gonzalo Higuain equalised with a header after 36 minutes. Ronaldo finally broke Sporting's resistance and following the dismissal of Roberto Canella for a second yellow card, Karim Benzema hit the third which was Real's 107th goal of the season. That is the same number as John Toshack's Real Madrid team in the 1989-90 season with Jose Mourinho's side still with five matches to play. Defending champions Barcelona can reduce the gap at the top to four points with victory at Levante later Saturday. Nuri Sahin began in midfield for Real alongside Sami Khedira, with Xabi Alonso suspended. Jose Callejon was included in a four-pronged attack with Benzema on the bench, with Mourinho perhaps holding him back for the Champions League semi-final with Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Sporting pulled off a surprise by beating Real at the Bernabeu last season and arrived this time with an important 3-2 win over Levante but still they remained in serious trouble, third from bottom. Real began nervously in the derby win with Atletico Madrid last Wednesday where they eventually ran out 4-1 victors and although this appeared on paper a more simple match they were again edgy at the back. The first clear opening fell to Sporting's Gaston Sangoy after 13 minutes. He stole the ball off Alvaro Arbeloa, the last man, but his shot was palmed away by keeper Iker Casillas. Sporting had most of their players encamped in and around their penalty area in a very defensive formation and Real were struggling to break them down. Instead, at the other end, in another foray forward, Sporting won a controversial penalty after Ramos slid in to clear the ball and the referee claimed he handled the ball. De las Cuevas sent the ball straight down the middle of the goal to give Real the lead. The tension was building up in the stadium but Real responded with first Khedira going close with a shot from the edge of the area and then Higuain headed in the equaliser. Ramos crossed for the Argentine who had not been picked up by Sporting defence and he knocked the ball past keeper Juan Pablo. Before the break Real could also have taken the lead but a Sahin free-kick came back off the crossbar. Mourinho brought on Benzema and Angel Di Maria for the second half but while Real had almost continual possession in the Sporting half the visitors defended valiantly and closed down the spaces. Ronaldo had further shots from distance and Benzema missed a half chance but they appeared to be lacking inspiration before Ronaldo headed in a Di Maria cross when Real needed him most. Canella who was already on a yellow card picked up a second for a foul on Di Maria and then, nine minutes from the end, Benzema sealed the win with a shot from a Mesut Ozil pass.