Cristiano Ronaldo scored an exquisite back-heeled goal to give Real Madrid a hard-fought 1-0 win at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, keeping the team on track for its first Spanish league title in four years.
After Vallecano had outplayed its crosstown rivals in the first half, Ronaldo pounced on a loose ball in the area and flicked it through a pack of defenders with his back to the net in the 54th minute to take his league-leading tally to 29 goals.
Rayo mustered a late push but missed a pair of clear chances to level late as Madrid held on to win its ninth straight away game in a league that it is dominating.
The victory left Jose Mourinho's team 13 points clear of defending champion Barcelona, which has a tough test later Sunday at an Atletico Madrid team rejuvenated under new coach Diego Simeone.
Rayo showed why it is having the best season of the three promoted teams in Spain with more scoring chances throughout the match until Ronaldo's brilliance proved too much.
Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain started an away game for the first time since early December with Karim Benzema out because of a right leg muscle injury.
But the Argentina international rarely saw the ball as Rayo carried the initiative led by striker Diego Costa, a winter transfer from Atletico Madrid who drew a yellow card from Sergio Ramos three minutes in.
Rayo, which started with a three-game winning streak, held the visitors at Vallecas stadium to a shot by Higuain and a pair of long blasts by Ronaldo that bounced wide in the first half.
Rayo's pressure almost paid off minutes before halftime when Francisco ''Piti'' Medina latched onto a pass, cut back and sent a rising shot off the post.
After the break Madrid gained control and soon went ahead for good when Ronaldo netted his 37th goal in all competitions this season.
Yet after Madrid failed to finish off the game with a second goal, the game swung back in Rayo's favor to keep the result in doubt until the final whistle.
Miguel ''Michu'' Perez slipped while shooting and sent the ball high in the 73rd after Ramos had lost the ball in his area, and two minutes later Jose Casado's long blast forced goalkeeper Iker Casillas to stretch and tip the ball wide.
Michu was shown a direct red card for a tackle on Sami Khedira in the dying moments before Emiliano Armenteros had a great chance to equalize but failed to convert in front of an open net.
Madrid's ninth straight away win left it 13 points clear of defending champion Barcelona, which has a tough test later at an Atletico Madrid team rejuvenated under new coach Diego Simeone.
