La Liga

Kaka returns as Real Madrid kept pace with Barcelona

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 18th and 19th La Liga goals of the season and Kaka made his first appearance in 8 months as Real Madrid beat city rivals Getafe 3-2 at stay two points behind leaders Barcelona.

Real took the lead in the 11th-minute lead when Angel Di Maria was pulled down in the penalty box and Ronaldo blasted the spot kick past Getafe keeper Jordi Codina.

Eight minutes later Madrid went two up and Di Maria played a great ball for Ozil to score. Getafe kept fighting though and pulled one back in the 29th minute when Dani Parejo ran past Alvaro Arbeloa and Lassana Diarra before beating Real’s Iker Casillas.

Ronaldo looked to have made the game safe 12 minutes into the second half with a smart finish from Karim Benzema’s pass. Mourinho introduced Kaka in the 75th minute and the 2007 World Player of the Year looked fit and hungry, linked well with Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo and managed one effort on goal that flew well wide.

The game turned in the 82nd minute when Real Madrid defender Arbeloa was sent off for a second yellow card and Getafe took advantage of the man advantage.Substitute Juan Albin hammered home a loose ball in the 85th to give Getafe hope but they were unable to find the equaliser.

Ronaldo’s two goals on the night put him two clear of Barca forward Lionel Messi for the La Liga scoring title.

In the other Monday games, Jose Catala and Borja Valero grabbed the goals as Villarreal cemented their grip on third, while Atletico Madrid missed the chance to climb above Espanyol into fifth when they were held 0-0 at home by Racing Santander.

Atletico are sixth with 27 points from 17 matches, one behind Espanyol who lost 2-1 at fourth-placed Valencia (31) on Sunday.

A late goal from midfielder Braulio snatched a 2-1 triumph for Real Zaragoza over visiting Real Sociedad that lifted them off the bottom of the table into 18th, level on 13 points with 19th-placed Almeria. Real Mallorca were 3-0 winners at home to Hercules and are ninth.