Summary Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored to help their teams win in the Spanish league.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored to help their teams win in the Spanish league on Sunday, a day before the two stars and Andres Iniesta vie for the FIFA Ballon d Or prize.
Messi converted a penalty in Barcelona s 4-0 thrashing of crosstown rival Espanyol, while Ronaldo scored twice in a three-minute span to give 10-man Real Madrid a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Real Sociedad.
Ronaldo s double likely saved coach Jose Mourinho from considerably more scathing criticism after his decision to drop goalkeeper Iker Casillas almost backfired for a second straight game.
Messi is the favorite to win the Ballon d Or for an unprecedented fourth time. Ronaldo won the award in 2008.
