Ronaldo hat-trick helps Madrid hit five

Cristiano Ronaldo hit a second hat-trick in three Liga games as Real Madrid put five past Real Sociedad de Fútbol to cut the gap to leaders FC Barcelona to three points.

Two Ronaldo goals either side of a Karim Benzema strike put the Merengues firmly in control before Sami Khedira made it 4-0 inside 36 minutes. Antoine Griezmann pulled one back for the visitors but Ronaldo completed the scoring with his 16th league goal of the campaign. Barcelona play lowly Real Betis Balompié on Sunday.

Athletic Club came from behind to get the better of Levante UD 1-0. Mikel Rico Moreno equalised for the Bilbao club and was sent off in the final minute after Aritz Aduriz had struck an 84th-minute winner. Getafe CF remain sixth after a 1-1 draw with Elche CF and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid won 2-0 at RC Celta de Vigo in the late game to move out of the relegation zone emulating UD Almería, who prevailed 1-0 at fellow strugglers CA Osasuna on Friday, their third straight victory.