Real Madrid 4-2 Almeria: Ronaldo Off As Blancos Fight Back In Bernabeu Thriller

Almeria's hopes of pulling off a 2-1 shock at the Santiago Bernabeu were scotched as Real Madrid launched a comeback to emerge as 4-2 victors.

An early goal from Sergio Ramos put the hosts in front, only for a quickfire double from Fernando Soriano and Kalu Uche to turn the tables.

Cristiano Ronaldo orchestrated the fightback, scoring one of three late goals for the Blancos, only to be sent off right at the death for a needless second yellow card.

With Kaka out due to injury, Rafael van der Vaart earned a rare start for Madrid, while Karim Benzema and Raul warmed the bench, meaning that Cristiano Ronaldo played up front alongside Gonzalo Higuain.

Almeria did not rush Guilherme back to the line-up, but Chico made a welcome return at centre-back, while Uche, Crusat and Juanma Ortiz comprised the forward three.

Madrid, eager to cut the gap at the top of the table to two points ahead of Barcelona's encoutner at Deportivo, began with grit. With much possession, they prevented Almeria from leaving their own half for the opening fifteen minutes. In the first two minutes, in fact, Higuain and Ronaldo found themselves denied by Diego Alves.

After that, though, Hugo Sanchez's side looked comfortable defending behind the ball on the eighteen yard line, and not until the 20th minute was there another real chance, Esteban Granero firing straight at Alves after Van der Vaart's through ball.

On the half hour mark Almeria's rearguard finally let up, Cristiano Ronaldo's superb cross finding Sergio Ramos for a perfect header to make it 1-0.

From ther Van der Vaart almost added a second, but Alves touched his rasping drive just wide of the post, and it was to the home fans' disappointment that there was not a second goal before the interval.

This inability to kill off games has cost Madrid previously, and it seemed set to do so again as Almeria levelled with only their second true attack of the game ten minutes after the break.

Albert Crusat's cross met an unmarked Soriano, whose deflected effort proved too much for Iker Casillas to deal with.

Just four minutes later, Uche seized on a poor clearance from Esteban Granero after a corner and hit a low goalwards effort on the second touch. Casillas got a hand to it, but it trickled in to give the visitors an unlikely lead.

On came Karim Benzema for Van der Vaart as Madrid attempted a comeback, although Crusat could have in fact extended Almeria's lead right after.

Still, Madrid managed that leveller, Marcelo's cross foxing Santiago Acasiete and meeting Gonzalo Higuain for an easy finish.

Ten minutes from time Alves blotted his hitherto-spotless copybook by bringing down Cristiano Ronaldo in the box for a penalty. Alves then pulled off a save, but could only parry it as far as Benzema, who duly made it 3-2 with a tap-in.

Ronaldo, more concerned with his penalty miss after that goal, managed to make amends a minuet later as Higuain ran brilliantly down the right before cutting it back for CR9 to score with ease.

However, the game ended on a sour note for the Portuguese as he saw red two minutes from time for kicking out at Ortiz after reacting badly to what was perceived as an arm across his face. He will now miss Madrid's visit to Valencia.

Steve Michaels, Goal.com