Osasuna extend home run, Real win under new boss

Primera Liga high-fliers Osasuna extended their perfect home record to eight wins when they beat struggling Real Mallorca 1-0 at El Sadar thanks to an early strike from Pierre Webo on Sunday.

The victory left Osasuna three points clear at the top, although champions Barcelona could overtake them on goal difference if they win their late match at home to Sevilla.

Real Madrid moved up to third after a 2-0 win at Malaga gave new coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro a winning start in the league.

Defender Sergio Ramos, playing in midfield in the absence of the suspended David Beckham, headed in the first goal from a corner and Brazilian forward Robinho added a second four minutes later with a fierce strike from 15 metres.

Osasuna lead the table with 34 points from 15 games, three clear of Barca and six ahead of Real.

Villarreal, Deportivo Coruna, Valencia and Celta Vigo are all tucked in close behind a further two points back.

Villarreal won 3-1 at Real Sociedad on Saturday while Valencia were held 1-1 by struggling visitors Athletic Bilbao.

Striker Diego Tristan earned Depor a 1-0 win at home to Cadiz and Celta slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Real Zaragoza.

Javier Aguirre's Osasuna got off to a dream start when Cameroon striker Webo clipped the ball over Toni Prats after the Mallorca keeper scuffed a clearance into his path with just five minutes on the clock.

The Navarrans dominated throughout and regularly threatened with their slickly worked counter-attacks but despite a host of clear scoring chances they were unable to extend their lead.

Real made a much slower start at La Rosaleda until they sparked into life on the half-hour and Ramos gave them the lead when he headed in low past keeper Francesc Arnau after Zinedine Zidane whipped in a corner from the left.

Four minutes later Brazilian forward Robinho, who had one of his more lively games since joining Real at the start of the season, fired in at the near post after a neat exchange of passes with Zidane and a twinkling run down the right.

Malaga battled hard for the rest of the game but despite a hatful of scoring chances they were unable to beat Real keeper Iker Casillas.

At the other end of the table, Real Betis were held to a 0-0 draw by fellow strugglers Espanyol and remain anchored to the bottom with 12 points after extending their winless streak to eight matches.