Ronaldo helps put Real back on top

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 22nd La Liga goal of the season to pace Real Madrid to a 2-0 home victory over Granada on Saturday that lifted it above Barcelona and Atletico Madrid to the top of the standings.

Barca and Atletico have drawn their past two outings, including a 0-0 stalemate at the Calderon stadium in Madrid that allowed Real to narrow the gap in the three-horse title race.

Saturday's labored victory at the Bernabeu was Real's fifth in a row in La Liga since a 2-2 draw at Osasuna in December and it leads the way for the first time since winning the title in 2011-12.