-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off after inspiring Real Madrid to an incident-packed 4-2 victory at home to Almeria on Saturday night , in which he created a goal , scored one and also missed a penalty . The world 's most expensive player helped Real bounce back from last weekend 's 1-0 `` El Clasico '' defeat to Barcelona as the big-spending capital outfit came back from 2-1 down in an explosive final 20 minutes . However , unbeaten Barca stayed five points clear at the top -- having played one more match -- with a 2-1 victory at Deportivo La Coruna as Lionel Messi scored twice . Ronaldo , making his first appearance at the Bernabeu in two months following ankle problems , crossed for Sergio Ramos to head the opening goal in the 31st minute . However , Fernando Soriano leveled with a deflected shot in the 58th minute and Kalu Uche put lowly Almeria head just three minutes later as Real failed to clear a corner . The hosts equalized with 17 minutes left as Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain kept up his hot scoring run with a predatory finish after the Almeria defense did not deal with a cross from the left . With eight minutes remaining , Ronaldo went down under the challenge of the onrushing Diego Alves , but the goalkeeper saved his resulting penalty -- however , Karim Benzema followed up to smash in the rebound to put Real ahead . Ronaldo wrapped it up a minute later from Higuain 's low cross , and was booked for tearing off his shirt to pose in front of his adoring fans . The Portugal captain received his second yellow card five minutes later for kicking out at Michel , but it was not costly as Real completed a morale-boosting win ahead of Tuesday 's Champions League trip to Marseille . Barcelona , whose European title defense is still in the balance ahead of Wednesday 's trip to Dynamo Kiev , took the lead against Deportivo in the 27th minute when Messi scored with a trademark neat finish . However , Adrian leveled in the 39th minute with a header after an error by Sergi Busquets , who returned from suspension . But Messi , named Europe 's top player for 2009 during the week , put Barca ahead again with 10 minutes left from Pedro 's cross and Zlatan Ibrahimovic followed up his winner against Real by wrapping up the victory on 88 . Third-placed Sevilla again failed to keep pace with the leaders after being held 1-1 at home by mid-table Valladolid , who had a player sent off . Angola striker Manucho put the visitors ahead in the 33rd minute with a glancing header from Diego Costa 's cross but five minutes later Borja Fernandez was red-carded for a lunge on Diego Perotti . Sevilla , who were held at home by Malaga last weekend , leveled with a penalty from Luis Fabiano just before halftime after Marcos brought down Jesus Navas . Brazil striker Fabiano squandered two golden second-half opportunities as Valladolid held on , meaning Valencia can move above Sevilla with victory away to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday . Atletico Madrid moved further away from relegation trouble with a 2-0 victory at promoted strugglers Xerez , with star strikers Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero scoring in each half . Uruguay international Forlan put Atletico ahead in the 29th minute from a cross by Jose Antonio Reyes , while Argentina 's Aguero doubled the lead on 65 with a low shot from 12 yards .