Ronaldo’s double secures Real Madrid win against Sporting Gijon

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in the opening 20 minutes to give the Spanish giants a hard-fought victory on Saturday, despite the visitors’ late pressure.

Real Madrid were let off the hook by Duje Cop’s missed penalty as Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in an unconvincing 2-1 win over Sporting Gijon at a sodden Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

La Liga leaders Madrid were without star man Gareth Bale, who has been ruled out for up to four months with an ankle tendon injury, but appeared comfortable enough as talisman Ronaldo came to the fore in the soaking capital.

The Portugal superstar netted twice inside 18 minutes, opening the scoring from the spot after Lucas Vasquez – deputising for Bale – was felled in the area, before adding a second with a thumping header.

However, Gijon were gifted a lifeline before the break when Carlos Carmona profited from some slack play by Luka Modric.

It appeared as though a further twist was in store when Gijon were awarded a penalty in the 78th minute, but Cop fluffed his lines from 12 yards as Madrid hung on for the three points.

Zinedine Zidane’s men consequently up the ante on Barcelona, who play at Real Sociedad on Sunday, with Luis Enrique’s side – who host Madrid in the first Clasico of the season next week – seven points adrift of the leaders.

The visitors started well and almost broke the deadlock in the first minute, but Carmona prodded just wide from close range after a clever reverse pass from Moi Gomez