Cristiano Ronaldo scored both Real Madrid's goals in a 2-0 win over Malaga Sunday but was later red-carded for deliberately elbowing defender Patrick Jan Mtiliga in the face. Ronaldo ended a three-game scoring drought in the 35th minute when Karim Benzema played the ball to Kaka, who crossed to the Portuguese winger to slot the ball home from close range. Ronaldo then scored his ninth goal of the season four minutes later, firing the ball into the roof of the net after being put through by Jose Maria “Guti” Gutierrez. But the Portugal forward's temper got the better of him 20 minutes from time as he lashed out with his elbow, striking Mtiliga in the face. Mtiliga was substituted with blood pouring from his nose. Madrid's 10th straight home win allows it to stay within five points of Barcelona, which won 3-0 at Valladolid Saturday. Barcelona has 49 points and Madrid 44, while Valencia is third with 39 points after a 0-0 draw against Tenerife. Mallorca went fourth - tied with Deportivo La Coruna at 34 points - after rallying for a 1-1 draw at Espanyol with a late penalty. Pablo Osvaldo put Espanyol ahead at the Cornella-El Prat Stadium in the 49th after slotting home a loose ball. But Victor Ruiz brought Ruben Gonzalez down inside the area to set up Borja Valero's 80th-minute penalty for Mallorca. In Sunday's other games, which capped the first half of the season, it was: Getafe 1, Atletico Madrid 0; Sporting Gijon 0, Racing Santander 1; Villarreal 4, Zaragoza 2; and Xerez 1, Osasuna 2. On Saturday, Sevilla beat Almeria 1-0 and Deportivo won 3-1 over Athletic Bilbao. Inter extends lead Goals from Diego Milito and Goran Pandev gave Inter Milan a 2-0 win over city rival AC Milan Sunday, extending its lead at the top of the Serie A to nine points. Inter played most of the match with 10 men after midfielder Wesley Sneijder was sent off for sarcastically applauding referee Gianluca Rocchi and it finished with only nine on the pitch after Lucio was also red carded for a deliberate handball in second half stoppage time. The result means Inter remains top with 49 points. Milan is second on 40, though Leonardo's side does have a match in hand. Inter made the better start, with Sneijder twice going close. Milito opened the scoring in the 10th minute after his strike partner Pandev found him in space behind Milan's defense and the Argentine shot low under Dida. Inter went down to 10 men in the 27th minute when Sneijder was dismissed. Milan began the second half more brightly and Inter keeper Julio Cesar had to be alert to stop Clarence Seedorf's close range header, while Ronaldinho went close moments later with a shot from the edge of the area. However, it was Inter that added to the scoreline, Pandev curling home a freekick in the 65th minute after Giuseppe Favalli brought down Maicon. In Sunday's earlier games, Abel Hernandez scored twice and Igor Budan once to help Palermo to a 3-0 win over Fiorentina that took the Sicilian side up to fifth. Palermo has 34 points, three behind Napoli in fourth place. Napoli beat Livorno 2-0. Juventus, which lost 2-1 at home to AS Roma Saturday has now slipped to sixth place following five losses in six matches. Also Sunday it was: Bologna 2, Bari 1; Genoa 2, Atalanta 0; Lazio 1, Chievo Verona 1; Siena 1, Cagliari 1; and Udinese 2, Sampdoria 3.
