Madrid wins with Ronaldo rested for Champions League semis

Real Madrid rested Cristiano Ronaldo and other regular starters for the Champions League and still got the win it needed to stay in contention for second place in the Spanish league.

Gareth Bale and Borja Mayoral scored first-half goals as Madrid defeated Leganes 2-1 yesterday to move within a point of second-place Atletico Madrid, which plays at Alaves today.

Ronaldo and captain Sergio Ramos weren’t included for the match at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, while Marcelo, Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez stayed on the bench.

Madrid defeated Bayern Munich 2-1 in Germany last week to take the edge going into Tuesday’s second leg of the Champions League semifinals at the Bernabeu. Madrid is trying to return to the European final for the fourth time in five seasons.

Barcelona needs a draw at relegation-threatened Deportivo La Coruna today to win its third La Liga in four seasons.

Darko Brasanac scored midway through the second half for Leganes, which earlier this season eliminated Madrid in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.

The southern Madrid club dropped to 16th in the 20-team standings and is not fully clear of relegation with three matches left.

Real Sociedad defeated Basque Country rival Athletic Bilbao 3-1 to keep alive its chances of earning a Europa League spot next season.

The hosts took advantage of two own-goals by Athletic defender Mikel San Jose. Mikel Oyarzabal also scored for Sociedad, while Raul Garcia put Athletic on the board by converting a second-half penalty kick when his team already trailed by three goals.

Sociedad midfielder Ruben Pardo was sent off near the end only a few minutes after being substituted in.

Sociedad moved to 10th place, two points from seventh-place Sevilla, the last team in the qualification zone for the Europa League.

Athletic, winless in four matches, stayed in 14th place.