BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Gareth Bale scored twice as Real Madrid overcame a two-goal deficit to keep the pressure on the Spanish league's front-runners with a 3-2 win at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.
Already without injured Cristiano Ronaldo, Madrid lost Karim Benzema near the end of the first half, three days before its Champions League semifinal first leg at Manchester City.
Rayo led 2-0 by the 14th minute thanks to Adrian Embarba and Ladislao ''Miku'' Fedor.
Bale pulled one back before Benzema was substituted by Lucas Vazquez, who came through with a headed goal in the 52nd.
Just when Madrid's rally was sputtering, Bale intercepted a pass and raced forward to score the 81st-minute winner.
Madrid provisionally moved two points ahead of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid before their matches later.
