A Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick has ensured that Real Madrid's La Liga title hopes remain alive following a tense 3-2 victory over Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Unai Emery's men refused to roll over, but Los Blancos were able to make it seven league wins on the bounce to move back within two points of leaders Barcelona.

It was the visiting side who started the better, and they would have had a lead inside the opening 10 minutes if not for a point-blank stop from Sergio Rico to deny Cristiano Ronaldo's attempt.

Sevilla created chances of their own in the opening quarter of the game, the best of which fell to Aleix Vidal, who was unable to get the better of Iker Casillas after latching onto Jose Antonio Reyes's through ball.

Two goals in little over a minute from Ronaldo put Los Blancos in command, however - the first a powerful header beyond Rico, before the Portuguese reacted quickest to Javier Hernandez's front-post flick-on to add goal number two in typical predatory fashion.

Raphael Varane made what appeared to be a crucial block to deny Bacca late in the first half, but the Sevilla striker did manage to find a way through from the spot right on the brink of half time, after Ramos brought down the lively Vidal inside the area.

Los Rojiblancos, who had not tasted defeat in the league since February, kept the pressure alive after the restart as Stephane Mbia outjumped Pepe to head narrowly wide of the target.

The contest remained delicately poised heading into the final half an hour, but Ronaldo's third of the night, a powerful header into the top corner of the net, restored Real's two-goal lead.

Gareth Bale claimed the assist for the goal, just moments after being brought off the bench for his first appearance in a fortnight, but it was not enough to keep Madrid comfortable.

It was another substitute, Vicente Iborra, who provided a second lifeline for the home side by tucking the ball into the bottom corner at the end of Vidal's cutback.

The Andalusian outfit could smell blood, and still had 11 minutes to find the game's sixth goal. That goal, which would surely have spelled the end of Madrid's title hunt, very nearly arrived following a goalmouth scramble which neither Dennis Suarez or Kevin Gameiro could take advantage of.

Ronaldo missed out on the chance to add another goal to his growing tally when he powered a header straight at Rico, while Casillas did enough to prevent Iborra from scoring up the other end late on as Carlo Ancelotti's men overcame a difficult test at a ground where they have struggled in recent times.