Robinho extends Real advantage
Substitute Robinho scored with his first touch as Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of the Primera Liga to five points with a 3-2 victory over nine-man Recreativo Huelva on Saturday.
The Brazilian put Real ahead 23 seconds after coming off the bench and sealed the win with an impudent chip in stoppage time as the visitors came from behind to capitalize on Barcelona’s 4-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Recre took an early lead through Martin Caceres, but Raul levelled for Real just before the half-hour mark.
Real’s Sergio Ramos and Recre duo Beto and Quique Alvarez all saw red before Robinho’s late brace - and there was still time for the visitors to ensure a nailbiting last few moments when Carlos Martins curled a brilliant free-kick past Iker Casillas.
The defeat sees Recre slip into the relegation zone as one of five teams on 29 points.Second-placed Barcelona were put to the sword by a Sergio Aguero-inspired Atletico at Vicente Calderon.
Aguero scored twice and created Atletico’s other two goals as the hosts shook off the dire form that had seen them lose four of their previous six league fixtures, and been knocked out of both the UEFA Cup and Copa del Rey.
Ronaldinho put the visitors in front on the half-hour mark with a brilliant overhead kick, but Aguero’s brace, a Maxi Rodriguez strike and a Diego Forlan penalty put Atletico in command before Samuel Eto’o snatched Barca’s second.
The win moves Atletico to within three points of third-placed Villarreal.
Elsewhere, Deportivo La Coruna took a big step towards avoiding the drop after coming from behind to claim a 2-1 win over Champions League hopefuls Sevilla.
Frederic Kanoute gave the visitors a deserved lead in the 25th minute, but they let the game slip as Christian Wilhelmsson levelled from the penalty spot and Angel Lafita struck the winner with 25 minutes remaining.
Sevilla are now five points adrift of fourth-place, while Depor are up to 13th, but still just a point above the drop zone.
And Espanyol boosted their hopes of Champions League football next season after Luis Garcia’s brace gave them a 2-0 win over 10-man Valencia.
The 27-year-old netted after four minutes and again from the spot six minutes after the break before the visitors had Hedwiges Maduro sent off 10 minutes from time.
Fifth-placed Espanyol are now two points behind Atletico, while Valencia remain ninth, seven points further back.
On Sunday, Almeria will look to stay in the hunt for a shock UEFA Cup place when they host Athletic Bilbao, Getafe entertain Real Mallorca and rock-bottom Levante welcome fellow strugglers Real Zaragoza.
Real Betis will look to boost their survival hopes against Murcia, Racing Santander travel to Real Valladolid and Villarreal take on Osasuna.