Leaders Real Madrid edged closer to the Primera Liga
title beating Deportivo Coruna 3-1 in the Bernabeu on Saturday.
Barcelona remained hot on their heels, overcoming Getafe 1-0 at
home thanks to a second minute goal from Ronaldinho. Ronaldinho,
however, was sent off before the break leading to a nail-biting
finish in the Nou Camp.
Real and Barca stay tied at the top on 72 points, though Fabio
Capello's side hold first place due to their superior head-to-head
record. Los Angeles Galaxy-bound David Beckham helped set up Sergio
Ramos's controversial first-half opener for Real, and crossed for
Raul to head the second soon after Depor had levelled in the 55th
minute.
Ruud van Nistelrooy wrapped up the win to keep Real on course for
their first major title in four years, with two matches left to
play. Earlier, Valencia's title challenge was derailed when they
were beaten 3-2 at home by local rivals Villarreal to stay fourth
on 65.
Third-placed Sevilla (67) are at home to fifth-placed Real Zaragoza
on Sunday. Real were in complete control against Deportivo but took
the lead in controversial circumstances in the 28th minute. A
hustling Beckham was at the centre of much of Real's forward play
when he cut in from the left and crossed towards former Manchester
United team mate Van Nistelrooy, who nodded the ball down with the
help of his arm.
As the Depor players appealed for handball, Ramos pounced to hammer
the ball into the net from close range. After the break, Beckham
thumped a free kick against the post but Depor levelled in the 55th
with a rare attack when Julian de Guzman crossed low and Capdevila
steered in at the near post.
Real restored their lead three minutes later when Beckham was given
time on the right to whip in a trademark cross which Raul headed
in. In the 75th, Van Nistelrooy took his tally for the season to 23
and settled home nerves when a loose ball broke to him in the area
as Raul tussled with a defender.
It was Beckham's penultimate game in the Bernabeu and he was the
last player to leave the pitch at the end after throwing his shirt
into the stands as the sell-out crowd chanted his name.
