Raul and Real leave it late

A last-gasp goal from Raúl gave Real Madrid the three points at Villareal, with the visitors coming from behind twice to record a 3-2 win.

Real, with Roberto Carlos, Fernando Hierro, Claude Makelele and Aitor Karanka all absent, put in a workmanlike first 45 minutes, Steve McManaman was gifted with a great chance to put Real ahead after 26 minutes but the ex-Liverpool star, confronted with an open goal, skied the ball over the bar.

But it was Víctor Muñoz's 'Yellow Submarine' who were to open the scoring following a misunderstanding between Alberto Celades and McManaman leaving Víctor Fernández free to chip into an empty net with keeper Iker Casillas well off his line.

Real struggled with their makeshift defence of Salgado, Pavón, Helgeura and Raúl Bravo, but otherwise played some attractive football during the first half.

They found it difficult however, to push forward when the likes of Zidane and Raúl were constantly called on to help out the back four. Real were awarded a penalty after 63 minutes - a decision that which enraged the home crowd.

Raúl Bravo's cross from the left arrived at the far post where Fernando Morientes was adjudged to have be floored by Rodolfo Arruabarrena, a harsh decision by referee, Eduardo Iturralde González in what was a completely innocent move.

Luis Figo rifled home the resulting spot kick into the top left corner to level the score.

But the home side were back in front, two minutes later following more defensive errors from the Madrileños, Javier Calleja fired home from the left, again with the visitors' goal completely unguarded.

Pedro Munitis levelled the score with just seven minutes of normal time remaining, and Ivan Helguera's unsuccessful overhead kick fell to Munitis who smashed the ball into the top right corner from inside the box.

Spurred on by the equaliser, Real pushed for a winner which came in the 88th minute.

Solari's sweeping cross from the left was met at the near post by Raúl, who glanced a header into the top corner.

Real, logging their first away win of the season close in last week's leaders Deportivo, Vicente Del Bosque's side have 13 points seven points less than the Galicians, who crashed 2-1 to Rayo Vallecano.