Ruthless Cristiano Ronaldo returns with double

CRISTIANO Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid cranked up the heat on La Liga leaders Barcelona by winning 3-0 at bottom-of-the-table Xerez on Saturday.

The former Manchester United player, returning from a two-game suspension, headed in Kaka's precise cross from the right in the 71st minute. The two combined again a minute later, with the Brazil playmaker passing for Ronaldo to volley home.

Former Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa had given Real the lead in the 65th minute. The victory moved the Madrilenos, who visit Lyon in the Champions League tomorrow, to within two points of Barca, who were in Madrid last night to face Atletico.

Third-place Valencia are now all but out of title contention after being held to a 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon. Fourth-place Real Mallorca will bid to step up their surprise bid for a Champions League place when they host struggling Tenerife tonight.

In Germany, Ruud van Nistelrooy scored his first Bundesliga goals, when he struck twice in three minutes to give fourth-place Hamburger SV a 3-1 win away to mid-table Stuttgart.

Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich remain locked together at the top of the table after both sides won again on Saturday. Leverkusen, still unbeaten after 22 games, are ahead on goal difference after defeating Wolfsburg 2-1, while Bayern kept the heat on with an impressive 3-1 victory at home to Borussia Dortmund.

In Italy second-place Roma closed to within six points of runaway leaders Inter Milan courtesy of a 4-1 win over Palermo, although Jose Mourinho's men would be hoping to re-assert their authority when they visited fourth-place Napoli last night.

Juventus, well out of title contention, earned their first win under new coach Alberto Zaccheroni, as they beat Genoa 3-2, but the decisive goal was tinged with controversy.

With 12 minutes left and the match poised at 2-2 Alessandro Del Piero won and scored a penalty, although pictures clearly showed that the Juve legend had tripped over his own feet.

In the Netherlands, PSV Eindhoven maintained their three-point lead at the top of the Eredivisie after a goal from Ola Toivonen secured a 1-0 victory over Heracles Almelo yesterday.

Steve McClaren's FC Twente remain in second place, three points off the top, after winning 2-1 at Vitesse Arnhem on Saturday.