Barcelona: Cristiano Ronaldo scored deep in injury time to cap Real Madrid's incredible 3-2 comeback victory at Levante on Saturday, when his team went from losing, to drawing, and finally to winning in the last five minutes.
At 1-1, Levante's Nabil El Zhar grabbed what looked to be the winner in the 86th, but Madrid substitute Alvaro Morata stepped up to level in the 90th. Still facing what would have been a costly draw, Ronaldo's last-gasp strike hit both a defender and the post before settling into the net to crush the hosts' hopes of taking a point.
"When Madrid plays football, it only needs five minutes to win a game," Madrid first-year coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
This was Ronaldo's second winner for Madrid on the last shot of the game in the last seven days after he netted a penalty six minutes after fulltime to grab a 2-1 win at Elche last Saturday. The Portugal forward has seven goals in league play - one less than Messi and Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa - and 12 goals in 10 games in all competitions this season.
The victory put Madrid back in third place, five points behind Barcelona and two points behind Atletico before they host Celta Vigo on Sunday. They also saved Ancelotti from even more pressure following the loss to Atletico last weekend. Although his team's lackluster performance through most of the game will likely earn him more criticism.
"People need to be patient," Morata said about the Madrid supporters who jeered Ancelotti in the last two home games. "There have been a lot of changes recently. We will play better, for sure."
Elsewhere, Real Sociedad lost their second game this week in agonizing fashion, when Rayo Vallecano substitute Jonathan Viera won and converted an 89th-minute penalty. Sociedad lost in injury time at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Elche got their second straight victory thanks to forward Ferran "Coro" Corominas' two goals in a 2-1 win over visiting Espanyol.
Madrid were caught pressing forward when Levante got a three-on-two breakaway, and midfielder Jordi Xumetra floated a cross for Baba to beat goalkeeper Diego Lopez with a right-footed volley.
Sergio Ramos leveled four minutes later when the Madrid center back raced in at the second post and slammed in Angel Di Maria's corner kick. Madrid were again caught looking to score late when El Zhar did well to fend off Ramos in the area before he spun and fired in the ball.
But Morata, who scored a late winner for Madrid here last season, coolly drove in his goal to finish a move started by fellow youngster Jese Rodriguez before Ronaldo pulled out his late heroics.
On Sunday, it's: Sevilla vs. Almeria, Getafe vs. Real Betis, and Athletic Bilbao vs. Valencia.
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