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Football | Spain

Cristiano Ronaldo with Pepe and Angel Di Maria © Reuters Images

Real, Barca win with 'Clasico' looming



Leaders Real Madrid will have a four-point advantage over chasing Barcelona when they meet at the Nou Camp for the second 'Clasico' of the campaign in a week's time after the arch rivals both won in La Liga on Saturday.

Real, whose Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo broke his own Spanish record with his 41st goal of the campaign, came from a goal down to beat second-from-bottom Sporting Gijon 3-1 at the Bernabeu, before Lionel Messi equalled Ronaldo's mark with both goals in Barca's 2-1 comeback win at Levante in the late kickoff.

Real's victory also meant Jose Mourinho's side equalled the club's Spanish record of 107 goals scored in a season set under Welsh coach John Toshack 22 years ago.

With five matches left, Real have 85 points, with Barca, who have trimmed six points from their arch rival's lead in the past month, on 81, 29 ahead of third-placed Valencia, who play at Espanyol on Sunday.

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