Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid beat Xerez 3-0 in the Spanish League Saturday. Ronaldo, returning from a two-game suspension, headed in Kaka's carefully placed cross from the right in the 71st. The two combined again in the 72nd, with the Brazil playmaker passing for Ronaldo to volley home. Defender Alvaro Arbeloa scored his first league goal for Madrid in the 65th minute, running in from the right wing on to a long pass to shoot past goalkeeper Renan Brito. The result means Madrid is on 53 points, two behind leader Barcelona, which visits Atletico Madrid Sunday. Earlier, Valencia was held to a 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon. Valencia is third on 43 points. At Xerez's Chapin Stadium, a minute's silence was observed before kickoff and the visitors wore armbands in tribute to former Real Madrid player and coach Luis Molowny, who died Friday. At the Molinon Stadium, Gijon went ahead in the fifth minute when Diego Castro curled a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez. In the 77th, Juan Manuel Mata scored his sixth of the season, running on to Ever Banega's through pass and equalizing. Roma posts 9th straight win Matteo Brighi scored twice to help AS Roma storm back up to second spot in Serie A with a 4-1 home win over Palermo Saturday, its ninth consecutive victory in all competitions. Claudio Ranieri's side are unbeaten in a club record-equalling 20 matches and lie six points behind Inter Milan . Inter is top on 53 points while AC Milan, which beat Udinese 3-2 Friday, is third on 45. Palermo had the better of the early exchanges in Rome before Brighi's volley from a Francesco Totti corner was deflected in by defender Cesare Bovo just after the half hour. Totti, a surprise inclusion after knee trouble, gave way to Julio Baptista at the break and the Brazilian soon netted his first goal of the league campaign when he tapped in Brighi's pass. The visitors protested about a push by Rodrigo Taddei in the build-up but could not complain about Bovo's woeful attempt to clear the ball for the second goal or Brighi's superb strike for the third. Fabrizio Miccoli converted a consolation penalty for the Sicilians before John Arne Riise blasted Roma's fourth. Striker Totti, considering coming out of international retirement for Italy at the World Cup, could be fit for Thursday's Europa League clash at Panathinaikos but will be suspended for next weekend's Serie A game against Catania. Sampdoria moved above Napoli and Palermo into fourth spot after Franco Semioli and Giampaolo Pazzini headed in against its former side to secure a 2-0 home win over Fiorentina. It was Sampdoria's fourth straight victory without the injured Antonio Cassano, who almost joined the Florence club last month. Fiorentina, which has sunk to 11th after a poor run, lost Alessandro Gamberini and Mario Santana to injury in the first half and must pick themselves up for Wednesday's Champions League last 16 first
