Morientes influential in Real win

Fernando Morientes was the hero for Real again tonight, scoring one and making another as the Merengues beat visitors Osasuna 2-1.

Real dominated from the start and took an early lead when Morientes arrived at the far post to head home a Roberto Carlos cross on 12 minutes. Three minutes later, another Morientes header, this time from a Luis Figo centre, was prodded home on the line by Raul Gonzalez as Real stamped their authority on the match.

Osasuna, stunned by the double strike, could do nothing to respond and only managed to create one half chance on goal during the first 45 minutes. Real meanwhile should really have capitalised on the great chances to extend their lead, but were more often than not, denied by some superb goalkeeping heroics from Juan Carlos Unzue.

Morientes's 22nd minute diving header was tipped away by the Basque number one, before Zinedine Zidane saw his low, 30-yard strike tipped onto the right post by the Osasuna keeper. The Basques looked much sharper during the second half and were unlucky not to cause an upset. Michel Salgado was forced to clear a Sabino Sanchez shot off the line as John Aloisi closed in on 79 minutes.

Australian striker Aloisi eventually pulled a goal back for Osasuna with five minutes left on the watch, heading down a cross at the far post that bounced past Iker Casillas and inside the right post. Though Real hung on to notch up a further three points in La Liga.

See all the game stats here:

http://www.realmadrid.dk/games/showfixture/default.asp?fixtureid=28