Barca closing in on Spanish crown without superstar Messi

BARCELONA, SPAIN — Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 49th and 50th goals in all competitions this season as Real Madrid won 3-0 at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, while Barcelona didn’t need Lionel Messi to brush aside Real Zaragoza 3-0 and ease closer to the Spanish league title.

Ronaldo opened with a dipping free kick two minutes in and scored again in the 69th before passing for Gonzalo Higuain to net a third in the 76th.

“We have a great player in Ronaldo,” said Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso. “He is so competitive. He wants to play every game and score as many goals he can. We got a great result tonight that lets us continue in second place.”

Barcelona’s own convincing victory led by a double from 21-year-old forward Cristian Tello kept it 13 points clear of Madrid with seven rounds to go.

Elsewhere, Radamel Falcao scored twice in Atletico Madrid’s 5-0 rout of Granada as it remained three points behind Madrid in third place, while Real Sociedad cemented its hold on fourth place and the last Champions League spot by winning 2-0 at Rayo Vallecano.

Ronaldo struck a perfect free kick to put Madrid ahead at San Mames Stadium.

Known for his blistering long-range blasts, Ronaldo instead used an exquisite bending effort to swerve the ball over the barrier and land it beyond the reach of goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz.

“Cristiano’s first goal put us on the way to victory,” Higuain said. “He’s in great form, and I hope he keeps it up for all of us.”

Messi was left out of Barcelona’s squad as he recovers from a right hamstring injury that he played through as a substitute to help Barcelona rally against Paris Saint-Germain and reach the Champions League semifinals earlier this week.

The Argentina forward wasn’t the only Barcelona player to take the day off. It played with only five of its regulars, given the league title is in hand and several players need extra rest before its Champions League tie with Bayern Munich on April 23. Madrid faces the first leg of its semifinal against Borussia Dortmund the next day.