BARCELONA: Real Madrid returned to the top of La Liga after winning a testing game at at rock bottom Osasuna 3-1 on Saturday thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Isco and substitute Lucas Vazquez.

Real top the standings on 49 points, leap-frogging Barcelona on 48 after the champions thrashed Alaves 6-0 with the help of goals from their ‘MSN’ trident of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.

Real also have two games in hand on their title rivals as they bid to win the title for the first time since 2012.

However, both games were overshadowed by horrible injuries as Barca’s Aleix Vidal suffered a dislocated right ankle that will keep him out for five months and Osasuna’s Tano Bonnin a double leg fracture.

Osasuna striker Sergio Leon cancelled out Ronaldo’s 24th-minute opener after defender Bonnin had been carried off with a sickening double leg break while Real defender Danilo was forced off with an injury in the second half.

Isco restored Real’s lead in the 62nd minute and Zinedine Zidane’s side added a third through Vazquez with the last kick of the game.

Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas produced a string of quality saves to preserve their advantage before Vazquez sealed only a second league win for Real in seven visits to the perennial La Liga strugglers, who are bottom of the table on 10 points.

“There is no such a difference [between the sides]. It is true it was the leader against last in the table, but you have to play the games and the opponents always make it difficult against Real,” said Zidane. “We have to suffer, but in the end we got what we came for.”

Barca’s Vidal was carried off near the end of the game and taken to a hospital after a sliding challenge from Theo Hernandez. Barca said Vidal would be sidelined for five months.

“We feel horrible for him and for the team,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said.

After barely playing in the first half of the season, Vidal earned a spot in Luis Enrique’s rotation in recent weeks.

Before the game, fans from both teams fought near Mendizorroza Stadium in the Basque city of Vitoria. Both clubs condemned the violence. Alaves said they would take action against any of its club members if they were involved.

Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao moved up to seventh with a 2-1 win over Deportivo la Coruna, whilst Betis and Valencia played out a 0-0 draw.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2017