Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice as Real Madrid keep upper hand on Barcelona

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring one of his two goals against Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 14, 2017. Real Madrid won 4-1. Gerard Julien / AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo struck his 400th (and 401st) goal for Real Madrid on Sunday as they retained the upper hand in the race for the Primera Liga title.

Madrid beat Sevilla 4-1 to stay level with Barcelona, who defeated Las Palmas by the same score.

Barca are top of the table on goal difference (77-60) but Madrid have two games remaining to Barca’s one.

A win and a draw will see Madrid crowned league champions for the first time since 2012.

Nacho opened the scoring from a quickly taken free kick. Ronaldo made it 2-0 with an easy tap-in for his landmark goal. Stevan Jovetic pulled one back for Sevilla after the break before Ronaldo bagged his 401st Madrid goal and Toni Kroos rounded off the scoring.

Neymar and Luis Suarez struck in the first half for Barca in Gran Canaria. Pedro Bigas scored for the home side in the second half but Neymar’s second and third on the night eased the tension.

* Agencies

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