Ronaldo nets 2 as Real wins; Messi hits 3 in Barca victory

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi scored goals in bunches on Sunday as leader Real Madrid stayed one point ahead of Barcelona with the Spanish league reaching its halfway point.

Ronaldo netted a second-half brace as Real won 3-0 at Getafe, while Messi struck a hat trick to spearhead Barcelona's 4-0 rout at Deportivo La Coruna.

Ronaldo took his league-leading tally to 28 goals, with Messi trailing on 19.

Defending champion Atletico Madrid did its part to stay in the title race and set up a promising second half of the season by beating bottom side Granada 2-0, remaining in third place, four points behind Madrid. Madrid still has a game in hand.

Sevilla hosts Malaga later also looking to stay in the hunt for a top-table finish.

Madrid started slowly three days after its defense of the Copa del Rey title was ended by Atletico, but its talented attack eventually came through after light snow fell on the Alfonso Perez Coliseum.

Ronaldo was particularly subdued until Karim Benzema dribbled to the end line and used a skillful change of foot to open a passing angle and set up the Portugal forward to net from close range in the 63rd minute.

Bale sprinted forward to redirect James Rodriguez's long ball with the outer edge of his left foot to double the advantage four minutes later.

Rodriguez continued to excel as Real's playmaker when he spotted Ronaldo calling for the ball and swerved in a perfectly placed cross for the Ballon d'Or winner to head home in the 79th.

After its exit from the cup, Carlo Ancelotti's team was under pressure to have a strong showing with only one win in four matches to start 2015 after finishing last year on a Spanish record 22-win streak.

"We didn't come back from Christmas in the best shape," Ancelotti said. "James (Rodriguez) played an extraordinary game. He is getting back to his top form. Little by little the entire team is recovering its best form."

Getafe's best scoring chance came with the result beyond doubt when Alvaro Vazquez hit the upright four minute from time.

Bale ended the match limping, but Ancelotti said it was only a "knock."

Messi tormented Deportivo from kickoff, drawing a save from goalkeeper Fabricio Agosto seconds before Ivan Rakitic met his run with a lobbed pass over the defense that the Argentina forward headed over Agosto.

Messi got his second in the 33rd by chipping the ball over Agosto when Neymar's pass for Luis Suarez fell to him at the six-yard box.

And his third came in the 62nd after Deportivo's defense made the mistake of letting Messi enter the area with the ball pegged to his left boot. He wasted little time in picking his spot and firing an unstoppable strike inside the far post.

Barcelona was gifted its fourth with seven to play when Alberto Lopo's clearance hit teammate Sidnei and bounced into their goal.

Atletico striker Mario Mandzukic opened the scoring at the Vicente Calderon Stadium when he converted a penalty kick in the 34th after Diego Godin was fouled by Abdoul Sissoko while trying to reach Fernando Torres' pass.

Playing its first game under interim coach Joseba Aguado following the firing of Joaquin Caparros, Granada had more than held its own until Mandzukic's goal, mustering four shots and as many corner kicks to just one each for the hosts.

But the struggling Andalusian side didn't threaten after falling behind, and recorded its 15th straight round without a win to remain at the foot of the standings.

Atletico substitute Raul Garcia used his back to bump Arda Turan's lobbed pass into the net to seal the victory two minutes from time.

Getafe and Deportivo remained one point above the relegation zone.

Also later, Levante is at Elche.