Real Madrid beats Recreativo on injury time goal to stay atop Spanish league

Roberto Carlos scored in injury time and gave Real Madrid a 3-2 win against Recreativo Huelva on Sunday to keep it atop the Spanish league with three rounds remaining.

Madrid led 2-0 but allowed a pair of goals in the final 16 minutes to jeopardize its four-match winning streak. Roberto Carlos raced down the left, settled Gago's cross and scored under sliding goalkeeper Bertrand Laquait.

"Roberto Carlos sprinted forward 80 meters to back up his team for that goal," Madrid coach Fabio Capello said. "I really liked the team today."

The victory gave Madrid 69 points, the same as FC Barcelona who is second on head-to-head results. Sevilla is third with 67 and Valencia fourth on 65 points.

Barcelona kept pace by trouncing Atletico Madrid 6-0 in the pouring rain at the Vicente Calderon Stadium.

Sevilla, coming off its UEFA Cup victory on Wednesday, matched the front-runners with a 2-1 victory earlier over Deportivo La Coruna.

Robinho put Madrid ahead in the ninth minute with a header off a perfectly aimed lofted cross by David Beckham. Laquait tripped Robinho in the six-yard box and Van Nistelrooy converted the penalty in the 54th minute to double the lead.

But Madrid defender Sergio Ramos brought down Ikechuckwu Uche in the penalty area to create Jesus Vasquez's penalty in the 74th, and Uche equalized 13 minutes later by knocking in a loose ball.