Ronaldo's hat trick leads Madrid past Levante 4-2

By Paul Logothetis

Associated Press

Published: Sunday, Feb. 12 2012 3:51 p.m. MST

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Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal, centre, scores his goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012.

Andres Kudacki, Associated Press

Summary

Cristiano Ronaldo's sixth hat trick of the season guided Real Madrid to a 4-2 victory over 10-man Levante on Sunday to extend the Spanish leader's advantage over defending champion Barcelona to 10 points.

MADRID — Cristiano Ronaldo's sixth hat trick of the season guided Real Madrid to a 4-2 victory over 10-man Levante on Sunday to extend the Spanish leader's advantage over defending champion Barcelona to 10 points.

Gustavo Cabral gave Levante a surprising lead in the fifth minute at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, and Madrid struggled to respond until Vicente Iborra's red card set up Ronaldo's penalty before halftime.

Ronaldo headed home his second in the 50th before unleashing a shot from outside the area seven minutes later that took a wicked dip over goalkeeper Gustavo Munua and into goal.

Another defensive lapse from Madrid allowed Arouna Kone to head in Levante's second in the 63rd, but Ronaldo fed Karim Benzema to curl in Madrid's fourth minutes later.

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