(REUTERS) – Two Cristiano Ronaldo penalties and an early red card for Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois helped leaders Real Madrid to a 4-1 derby victory at the Bernabeu on yesterday. Adrian Lopez had lifted the visitors’ hopes that they might end a 12-year wait for a win over their neighbours with a well-worked goal after only 15 minutes, but their joy was short-lived.
Belgian Courtois brought down Karim Benzema in the area and was sent off in the 22nd minute, Ronaldo netted from the spot, and Atletico’s chances of an upset slowly evaporated.
Angel Di Maria put the hosts in front soon after the re-start and Gonzalo Higuain profited from a woeful misunderstanding in the Atletico defence to pop a third into the empty net.
Atletico defender Diego Godin’s red card — for a foul on Higuain — left his side with nine men in the 82nd minute and allowed Ronaldo to wrap up the scoring with a second spotkick, his 16th goal of the campaign.
Real’s 13th consecutive victory in all competitions put them on 34 points from 13 games, six ahead of second-placed Barcelona, who were playing just down the road at Getafe in the late game.
Earlier, Valencia kept up their pursuit of the leaders with a 2-1 win at promoted Rayo Vallecano, putting last weekend’s home defeat by Real behind them.
Brazilian striker Jonas fired them in front from distance in the 21st minute and, after Diego Alves had kept them in the match with a couple of fine saves, Argentine Tino Costa doubled the lead with a rasping drive in the 56th.
Rayo substitute Raul Tamudo pulled a goal back for the hosts, stabbing the ball in from close range after appearing to control it with his arm six minutes from time.
Valencia, who put seven past Racing Genk in the Champions League on Wednesday, secured third place for another week, moving on to 27 points from 13 games.