The top story: Ronado helps Madrid open four-point lead

While Cristiano Ronaldo supplied the goals, Isco was the focal point of every Real Madrid attack as they thumped city rivals Atletico Madrid at Vicente Calderon 3-0 on Saturday. Despite having several first-team players out through injury, Zinedine Zidane’s makeshift side outplayed a Atletico side, who were a shadow of the side that have gone on to frustrate their illustrious neighbours in recent meetings.

After Ronaldo’s opening strike, Atletico withdrew into a shell and failed to surmount a challenge although there was a brief spell in the second half where they threatened the Madrid backline through Antoine Griezmaan and Koke. Ronaldo’s second was from the penalty spot and his third came through a crisp finish from at the back post through a counter-attack started by Gareth Bale. With Barcelona drawing with Malaga 0-0, the 10-time European champions looked good to win their first league title since 2011-’12.

Other top stories

  1. The prolific Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his 12th Bundesliga goal in 11 games as Borussia Dortmund edged past Bayern Munich 1-0. Munich drew a blank in front of goal despite a relentless late surge. With the win, third-placed Tomas Tuchel’s side cut the lead to three points against second-placed Munich. 
  2. In the English Premier League, Manchester United were left kicking themselves for not pressing for a second goal when they clearly had the upper hand against Arsenal. The match ended 1-1 at Old Trafford courtesy of a late equaliser from Olivier Giroud. Yaya Toure completed a dream return to Manchester City colours with a double to haul his team to the top of the table. A late Harry Kane brace helped Tottenham Hotspur beat West Ham United 3-2.
  3. Barcelona failed to score at the Camp Nou as they saw arch-rivals Real Madrid register a four-point lead at the top of the table. The away side finished with nine men, but without Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the defending league champions lacked incisiveness up front.  
  4. Juventus’ pursuit of a sixth straight title win was on course as they beat Pescara 3-0 at the Juventus stadium. In the closing stages of the game, 16-year-old striker Moise Kean became the first player born in 2000 to earn a cap in the four major leagues of Europe.   
  5. Manchester United and England skipper Wayne Rooney called the treatment given towards photos showing him out late at night on national duty “disgraceful”. The 31-year-old also slammed the media for “trying to write his obituary” and that he is far from done with his England career.
  6. Diego Forlan scored the first hat-trick of the Indian Super League 2016 as Mumbai City FC routed Kerala Blasters 5-0 at the Andheri Sports Complex to climb to the top of the table. Sony Norde and Lucian Goian scored the other two goals.