Raul makes winning Real Madrid return
Real Madrid continued on their winning ways yesterday with a 3-0 victory over Alaves.
Real were 2-0 up with barely 10 minutes gone following goals from Guti and Robinho before a late strike from Cicinho sealed the game.
Just to complete a memorable day for the Madrid outfit, Raul made his return as a second-half substitute after three months out injured.
Real coach, Juan Ramon Lopez Caro, made several changes from the team that almost over-turned a 6-1 first-leg deficit in the cup mid-week, leaving Roberto Carlos, Cicinho and Zinedine Zidane on the bench and bringing in Sergio Ramos and Alvaro Mejia in defence.
Real's talisman, Raul, whose last game was the humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to arch-rivals Barcelona in November, was back in the squad after being out injured for three months.
He was brought on halfway through the second half to an enthusiastic welcome from the adoring home crowd in a moment which must have also brought a smile to the face of Spain coach Luis Aragones as the countdown to the World Cup continues.
David Beckham was then substituted to another standing ovation after a characteristically good game.