Real Madrid win as Ronaldo gets Red

Real Madrid win as Ronaldo gets Red

Cristiano Ronaldo scored before being sent off as Real Madrid bounced back from last weekend's defeat to Barcelona to beat Almeria 4-2 in an incident-packed match.

Ronaldo, starting his first home match in over two months due to his ankle injury, also created a goal and missed a penalty as Madrid made hard work of seeing off lowly Almeria.

There appeared little sign of the drama to come as Manuel Pellegrini's men ended an impressive first-half display 1-0 up thanks to Sergio Ramos' header.

But Almeria, who did not have a shot in anger in the opening period, stunned their hosts with two goals in three minutes from Fernando Soriano and Kalu Uche to lead 2-1.

That sparked the home side into action, and Madrid responded with goals from Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema - who netted after Ronaldo's penalty had been saved - and then Ronaldo in the final 17 minutes.

The former Manchester United man was booked for taking his shirt off to celebrate that goal, and that proved costly as four minutes later he was handed his marching orders after picking up a second yellow following a tussle with Michel.

His dismissal did not cost Madrid dear in this match though as they held on to make it seven home wins from seven and keep the pressure on leaders Barca.

Only superb goalkeeping by Almeria's Diego Alves kept Madrid down to one goal during a one-sided first half, with the Brazilian doing superbly to deny Rafael van der Vaart (twice), Higuain (twice), Ronaldo and Esteban Granero in the first period.

Madrid were performing as well as they have all season, and all that was missing was a goal.

That duly arrived in the 32nd minute, as defender Ramos powered home Ronaldo's cross for his first goal of the season.

Neither side made changes at the break, which was maybe somewhat surprising on Hugo Sanchez's part as his Almeria side had been overwhelmed in the opening period.

However, Sanchez's faith in his players, who had lost six of their last seven competitive matches, proved justified as Almeria shocked Madrid with two quickfire goals to take the lead.

It was not as if the hosts had not been warned, with Uche bringing a brilliant one-handed stop out of Iker Casillas in the 54th minute.

Casillas was left with no chance for the equaliser soon after, with Soriano's first-time effort deflecting off Albiol and flying in.

That was a huge setback for Madrid, but worse followed as Almeria went ahead.

Juanma Ortiz's corner from the right found its way through to Uche, and he brought the ball down before firing a low shot past Casillas.

Pellegrini responded to that by sending on Benzema for Van der Vaart, but Almeria went close to stretching their lead with the impressive Albert Crusat firing just over from the edge of the box.

It was all Madrid after that though. Albiol had a header cleared off the line and Ronaldo blazed over before Higuain drew the hosts level in the 73rd minute.

The Argentinian capitalised on a miscued clearance to coolly slot a low shot past Alves into the far bottom corner.

Higuain had a great chance to put Madrid ahead two minutes after that, but he hopelessly fluffed his volley before Ronaldo saw a free-kick saved.

The home side looked to be running out of time, but they were handed the perfect chance to get their noses in front when they were awarded a controversial penalty 10 minutes from time.

Ronaldo went crashing after attempting to round Alves, but the Almeria goalkeeper looked to get his hands on the ball.

However, the referee pointed to the spot and although some justice appeared to have been served when Alves saved Ronaldo's resulting penalty, Benzema followed up to slam the ball into the roof of the net on the rebound.

Ronaldo looked distraught to miss that, but his disappointment was only temporary as moments later he slotted home Higuain's low cross to make it 4-2.

Ronaldo's celebrations would end up contributing to his late dismissal, but he had done enough by then to help Madrid claim an important victory.