Braces from Kaka and Gonzalo Higuain helped Real Madrid coast past Villarreal in a routine 6-2 win at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo opened the scoring after 18 minutes with a delightful free-kick that flew across keeper Diego Lopez and into the top corner.
The game had barely restarted when the home side doubled their lead two minutes later, Kaka stroking home a penalty after his run into the box had been halted by Villarreal defender Ivan Marcano.
The Yellow Submarines hauled themselves back into the clash with an equally impressive free-kick of their own, Marcos Senna curling past Iker Casillas into the roof of the net from 30-yards.
Higuain added a third for Real in the 55th minute when he converted Ronaldo's low right-wing cross, before Nilmar responded for the visitors.
But Higuain and Kaka notched again to bag braces, as Xabi Alonso blasted in a late penalty to put gloss on the scoreline.
Real Zaragoza's recent revival came to an abrupt halt as Sporting Gijon recorded a first Primera Division win in six games, triumphing 3-1 at La Romareda.
Goals either side of half-time from Mate Bilic and Luis Moran had the visitors cruising and, despite Javier Arizmendi's goal in stoppage time, David Barral immediately snuffed out any thoughts of a comeback by netting a third.
Defeat left Zaragoza just a point above the bottom three and ended their run of three matches - including two wins - without defeat.
An 87th minute winner from Pablo Piatti gave Almeria a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid, easing their relegation worries in the process.
The two sides had been deadlocked until the closing stages and the game looked to be heading for a draw, but Piatti capitalised on a poor defensive header to fire past Andres Sergio Asenjo for his fourth goal of the season.
Atletico had earlier hit the bar, however the hosts ran out deserved victors to move seven points clear of the drop.
Fellow strugglers Malaga boosted their hopes of survival thanks to a narrow 2-1 win over Espanyol, as the Catalans' miserable away form continued at La Rosaleda.
Fernando Fernandez gave the Andalusians the lead after 13 minutes, and although Victor Ruiz equalised shortly before half-time, the home side sealed a second consecutive victory thanks to Victor Obinna's winner a quarter of an hour from time.
Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz's side were reduced to 10 men late on when Jesus Gamez was sent off for a nasty tackle on Raul Baena.
Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao kept themselves in the mix for European qualification with a comfortable 4-1 win over 10-man Tenerife.
The visitors failed to recover after Jose Antonio Culebras was given his marching orders in just the 17th minute for an ugly challenge on Gaizka Toquero in the penalty area.
Fernando Llorente dispatched the resulting spot-kick and Toquero doubled the lead a few minutes later to heap more misery on the second-bottom club.
Andoni Iraola got the third after the break and, after Alejandro Alfaro had pulled a goal back for Jose Luis Oltra's side, Igor Gabilondo rounded off the scoring.
Osasuna denied relegation threatened Real Valladolid a rare victory with an equaliser four minutes from time in Pamplona.
The hosts had been denied by the woodwork three times before Valladolid took the lead through a screamer from Medunjanin Haris.
With the match entering the final 10 minutes, the deadlock was finally broken by Valladolid, and it was substitute Haris who did the damage with a superb 25-yard effort that flew into the top corner.
Manucho then drew a smart save from Ricardo as Valladolid attempted to secure a vital win, but it was not to be as Camunas headed in Punal's cross for the equaliser with four minutes left.
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