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Cristiano Ronaldo leads Real Madrid rout, Barcelona lose to Celta

Barcelona lost their grip at the top of La Liga as they fell to a 1-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo as Lionel Messi failed to equal Telmo Zarra's league goalscoring record.

Barca hit the woodwork four times, had nine shots on target and dominated possession, while Sergio Alvarez in the Celta goal had a brilliant game and made some crucial saves from Messi and home debutant Luis Suarez in particular.

Barca had a couple of early chances, with Neymar heading at goal and then rattling the bar from the corner of the penalty area, but then Celta settled into the game, spending a large period in the Barca half, with Nolito firing wide and Pablo Hernandez's header forcing a save from Claudio Bravo.

The hosts came back at their opponents, though, and Lionel Messi could have scored on three occasions in a matter of minutes. His first-time effort was punched away at the near post by the brilliant Alvarez; the Argentinian then rounded the visiting stopper but saw his effort slid onto the bar by Jonny Castro; and a couple of minutes later he headed over from eight yards out.

There was still time for more attempts before the break, with Alvarez diving low to keep out efforts from Suarez and then Neymar.

Barca continued their relentless attacking in the second half, Neymar clipping the bar again after a cut-back from Alba. But Celta managed to quell the assault, and, on 55 minutes, stunned the Nou Camp.

The goal originated from a long punt upfield by Alvarez, headed into the path of Nolito. The former Barcelona player outmuscled Dani Alves and Sergio Busquets to flick the ball to Larrivey, who side-footed into the bottom corner.

Barca struggled to respond immediately, but, helped by the appearance of Xavi and Pedro Rodriguez from the bench, laid siege to the Celta goal in the the final 20 minutes. Suarez headed straight at Alvarez from 10 yards out, Messi clipped the upright from a free-kick and then Alvarez produced another excellent save from the Uruguay striker.

Celta could also have scored again, substitute Charles heading over from inside the area after Bravo had saved from Nolito, but they held on for all three points and left the Catalans in third place -- two points behind Real Madrid.

Earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo scored hit his 20th goal in 12 games after just 99 seconds as Real Madrid cruised to a 4-0 victory at Granada to rack up their 11th consecutive win in all competitions.

The day before the game, Granada coach Joaquin Caparros told Marca he hoped Madrid "do not walk all over us," but less than two minutes had gone when Ronaldo put the visitors in command.

The industrious Dani Carvajal won the ball back from Jeison Murillo on the right-hand side of the area to play in Benzema, who rolled the ball across the box for Ronaldo to stroke it into the bottom corner.

A second Madrid goal seemed inevitable, and it soon arrived thanks to a moment of brilliance from Rodriguez. Carvajal aimed a throw-in towards Benzema on the corner of the area and the Frenchman flicked the ball up towards the Colombian, who took everyone in the stadium by surprise by volleying straight into the top corner with his left boot.

Benzema had got the assist for both of Madrid's goals and scored one himself 10 minutes into the second half, latching onto a backheel from Ronaldo to poke into the far corner.

And Granada could not escape without conceding again. Arbeloa got down the right hand side to play in Ronaldo, but the Portuguese slid to the floor and could not get enough power on his shot -- so Rodriguez followed it up to help it over the line and score his second of the game.

Antoine Griezmann scored twice and Koke had a hand in three goals as Atletico Madrid cruised to a 4-2 win against Cordoba.

Griezmann put Atletico ahead just before the break but Nabil Ghilas grabbed the first of his two goals to level things up shortly after the interval.

Griezmann's second restored the home side's lead and further goals from Mario Mandzukic and Raul Garcia put the result beyond doubt before Ghilas scored his second.

Juanmi scored the only goal as Malaga won 1-0 away to struggling Real Sociedad in the Primera Division.

The playmaker found the net from close range as a lacklustre game entered its final 20 minutes, and it was enough to seal maximum points.

The result leaves Malaga just a point outside the European places in seventh while Sociedad, with only one win all season, are just one place and one point above the relegation zone.