text: Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 300th goal of his Real Madrid career to become the third player in the club's history to reach the landmark alongside Alfredo Di Stefano and Raul. The Portugal forward netted against Rayo Vallecano in the 68th minute to move Madrid within four points of their great rivals Barcelona, letting out his frustration  following an unfair booking for a dive which could see the three-time Ballon d'Or winner suspended for Saturday's La Liga game with Eibar. Yet Ronaldo joined the 300 club in just 288 appearances by doing what all forwards should, sending a header downwards and beating goalkeeper Cristian Alvarez, before celebrating with Gareth Bale and his team-mates. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 300th goal of his Real Madrid career to see off Rayo Vallecano and remain four points behind Barcelona . Ronaldo joined the 300 club in just 288 appearances with this header against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night . Ronaldo turns to his trademark celebration after scoring the 300th goal of his Real Madrid career . The Portugal forward netted in the 68th minute to move Madrid within four points of their great rivals . Ronaldo celebrates with Real Madrid team-mate Gareth Bale after opening the scoring for the Spanish club . Ronaldo is swamped by his Real Madrid team-mates after scoring the opening goal of the night . Rayo Vallecano: Cristian, Tito, Amaya, Zé Castro, Nacho, Fatau, Trashorras, Embarba, Kakuta, Bueno, Manucho . Subs: Cobeno, Miku, Insua, Ba, Aquino, Ruiz Jozabed, Lica . Goals: NONE . Booked: Tito, Nacho, Cobeno, Amaya . Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric, James; Cristiano, Benzema, Bale . Subs: Navas, Coentrao, Hernandez, Nacho, Jese, Isco, Illarramendi . Goals: Ronaldo (68), Rodriguez (73) Booked: Rodriguez, Ronaldo, Kroos, Bale, Carvajal . Not only that, the former Manchester United great has scored 99 goals under manager Carlo Ancelotti in just 89 games, following his five against Granada three days ago. His latest puts the 30-year-old  just seven goals behind Di Stefano's record of 307 in 396 outings, and 23 shy of Raul's 323 in 741 — with plenty of time to surpass both Bernabeu legends. Up until his opening goal 22 minutes from time, however, it long looked like Ancelotti would be left as deflated as the balloons that Ronaldo took a disliking to in the first half. Ronaldo had given four orange balloons that invaded the pitch at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas a kicking as his team failed to dominate against a team with little left to play for in mid-table. Rayo in no way had their flip flops on, and fancied giving the winners of La Decima a run for their money. They did just that, proving far more difficult than the Granada side beaten 9-1 on Sunday. Yet Real's rotten luck was epitomised by Ronaldo's yellow card  in the 52nd minute, received for diving inside the 18-yard box with the game at 0-0. He had beaten the offside trap, before cutting inside to shoot, only for defender Antonio Amaya to chop him down. Quite clearly, too. Replays were not needed to show it was a wrong decision from referee Mario Melero Lopez to book Ronaldo for diving. From every angle, there was no question it should have been a penalty, and Ancelotti will appeal the caution in a bid to have his one-game ban rescinded. 'I told the referee that everyone saw it was a penalty,' Ancelotti said afterwards. 'I told him it was incredible that he didn't award a penalty and that he showed Cristiano the yellow card. We will appeal.' The booking lit something in the stomachs of the Madrid players, as Toni Kroos, Bale and Dani Carvajal were cautioned for dissent less than three minutes later before they broke the deadlock soon after. Ronaldo gave four orange balloons a kicking in the first half on what was shaping up to be a frustrating evening for CR7 . Ronaldo was having a frustrating evening until he scored his 300th of the career for Real Madrid . 300 - goals . 288 - appearances . 206 - right footed . 52 - left footed . 41 - headers . 55 - penalties . 77 - assists . On 68 minutes,  Carvajal got his own back. The Spain right-back escaped his marker down the  wing before crossing for Ronaldo to head home his 300th goal for Los Blancos. An easy way to reach a milestone. Ronaldo, in celebration, gestured towards the linesman who robbed him of the penalty and, from then on, the win never looked in doubt. It was James Rodriguez who put daylight between the teams just five minutes later. The Colombia international's controlled shot found the bottom-left corner, and effectively killed the game off to ensure Madrid would not be left six points adrift of Barcelona. Ancelotti added: 'We tried to pressure them with more intensity high up the pitch but in the first half we were not convincing. In the second, we were more complete, we played well and we deserved to win.' They will have to repeat the trick  on Saturday against Eibar to remain within touching distance of Barcelona, but are set to be without the suspended Ronaldo. The man Real paid £80million for in 2009 continued his protests with the officials after the full-time whistle, but it seems he will have to wait patiently to chase down Di Stefano and Raul. Madrid's rotten luck was epitomised by Ronaldo's yellow card from referee Mario Melero Lopez for this so-called dive . Ronaldo couldn't believe it as he was not awarded a penalty and was booked afterwards for diving . Ronaldo complains during the match as it was not going his way until his goal in the second half . James Rodriguez doubled Real's lead on Wednesday to ensure the win for the Spanish giants .
target: Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 300th goal of his Real Madrid career .
  The Portuguese did it in just 288 appearances for the Spanish club .
  Ronaldo is chasing down Alfredo Di Stefano's 307 and Raul's 323 totals for Real .
  James Rodriguez doubled their lead as Real beat Rayo Vallecano 2-0 in La Liga .
  Barcelona sit top of the table but second-placed Real cut the gap to four points .
  Carlo Ancelotti plans to appeal Ronaldo's 'incredible' yellow card for diving .