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 scored for an eighth straight Spanish league game by converting a penalty in Barcelona’s 4-0 thrashing of crosstown rival Espanyol, while Ronaldo netted twice in a three-minute span to give 10-man Real Madrid a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Real Sociedad.

Messi, who finished 2012 with a record 91 goals, is the favorite to win the Ballon d’Or for an unprecedented fourth time. Ronaldo collected the award in 2008. Messi’s teammate, Iniesta, has never won football’s highest individual honor.

”Andres would love to win it, just like Leo,” said Barcelona forward Pedro Rodriguez, who scored twice. ”I hope one of them wins it.”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, with Madrid barely overcoming Xabi Prieto’s hat trick.

Despite a fan and media backlash after last round’s loss, Mourinho again started rarely used Adan Garrido. But the ‘keeper was sent off after giving away an early penalty, forcing the introduction of Casillas.

The crowd at Santiago Bernabeu stadium voiced its displeasure with Mourinho by jeering the coach’s name when it was announced before the game and cheering for their beloved Casillas.

Mourinho said he wasn’t bothered by the boos.”Perfect. They can whistle at me if they want and then support the team,” Mourinho said. ”I think the jeers are for dropping Casillas, and I think that they are because we are far from our objectives in the league. I accept them both.”

Madrid’s fans, however, couldn’t have asked for a better start just two minutes in when Sociedad’s unbalanced defense left Karim Benzema unmarked to receive Khedira’s pass and score with ease.Madrid’s lead didn’t last long and it again appeared to show that Mourinho’s choice in goal was misguided.

dan was overwhelmed last round when he conceded three goals in the loss at Malaga, and he was shown to be out of his depth at home as well.He made a poor pass that Carlos Vela intercepted, and then charged out and fouled the Mexico forward in his box. The referee didn’t hesitate to show him a direct red card, creating the dramatic situation of Casillas being called off the bench to defend the penalty attempt.

The crowd chanted ”Iker! Iker!” as the Spanish international jogged on, refusing to take the captain’s armband from Ronaldo. But there were no heroics as Prieto coolly stroked in the spot kick to equalise in the ninth minute.