Cristiano Ronaldo sent Real Madrid to the top of La Liga with one of those slam-dunk headers that are becoming as much his trademark as his unstoppable free-kicks.

Ronaldo also assisted Marcelo for Real Madrid’s second goal and got defender David Navarro sent off in the second half of a convincing 3-0 win.

It was another extraordinary headed goal from Ronaldo, this time from Angel Di Maria’s corner, and it sent Madrid on their way to a win that extends their unbeaten run to 29 games.

The Argentine’s corner floated over the penalty spot and Ronaldo climbed above and between two Levante defenders; hung in the air for long enough to draw back his head, and bullet a header past Keylor Navas in the Levante goal.

The Costan Rican keeper who England will face in the World Cup this summer has been on outstanding form this season with only Almeria keeper Esteban credited with having made more saves, but he was helpless to stop the ball squeezing between his dive and his left-hand upright.

Madrid extended their lead five minutes into the second-half when Marcelo took a pass from Ronaldo and a leaf out of his team-mates book with a stepover and wicked right foot shot that again left Navas with no chance.

Levante were reduced to ten men with 20 minutes left when David Navarro was sent off for a tackle from behind on Ronaldo. The challenge looked worthy of only a yellow and Levante coach Joaquin Caparros was furious at the way Ronaldo’s slightly exaggerated reaction helped make the referee’s mind up.

Levante keeper Navas said: ‘It is always hard to have a player sent off and I don’t think it was a red card.’

But the game was long gone before the red.

Ronaldo and Navarro have history after the Spanish defender elbowed the Portuguese striker last season leaving him bleeding, concussed and unable to finish the game. Ronaldo still managed to score in that match and he has an incredible record against Levante scoring against them in each of his seasons at Madrid including two hat-tricks.

Real’s talisman now has 24 goals in the league this season and has scored eight in his last five games for club and country.

Karim Benzema was denied by Navas as Madrid pushed for the third and it soon came from the boot of a Levante player.

Having scored the second Marcelo made this one when he crossed dangerously from the left and defender Nikos Karabelas comically turned the ball in as he scrambled back to clear.

Di Maria drew another save from Navas as Madrid looked to take advantage of the extra man. Ronaldo crashed another header against the bar this time from a Marcelo cross and Gareth Bale also so nearly joined the party with a shot from distance just turned around his post by Navas.

Madrid’s win moved them four points clear of Barcelona but it came at a price with Dani Carvajal falling awkwardly off the ball and stretchered off with what looked like a knee injury.

Real already have one right-back injured with Alvaro Arbeloa out for the next three weeks and this will test their resources.

But injury setbacks aside, it is difficult to think of a more convincing team in Europe at the moment, and impossible to find a forward in such unstoppable form.

—Daily Mail