Ronaldo passes 300 La Liga goals in Real Madrid win

MADRID, Mar 4 (AFP): Cristiano Ronaldo became only the second player ever to score 300 goals in La Liga as his double fired Real Madrid to a 3-1 victory over 10-man Getafe on Saturday.

Gareth Bale opened the scoring at the Santiago Bernabeu before Ronaldo followed Lionel Messi in hitting his 300th and 301st goals after just 286 matches in the Spanish top flight. Messi needed 334 to reach the same mark.

Getafe's Loic Remy was sent off in the 47th minute for a second yellow card but the visitors still threatened a comeback at 2-0, when Francisco Portillo converted a penalty, awarded for a foul by Nacho on Jorge Molina.

Ronaldo had the last word, however, and his contribution is timely given Real now turn their attention to what could be a season-defining Champions League second leg with PSG on Tuesday, in which they lead 3-1. In La Liga, Zinedine Zidane's side move seven points behind second-placed Atletico Madrid, who play Barcelona on Sunday, while Getafe stay 10th.

Bale also put his hand up for a starting spot in France by capping a lively display with a goal. He almost had a second late on but a curling shot nipped the post.

The Welshman's starting spot at the Parc des Princes is not ensured, however, his 90 minutes here perhaps even an indicator that his rest is to come in midweek.