Real Madrid close in on Spanish title

Real Madrid moved to the brink of their first Spanish league title since 1997 as a poacher's goal from Guti earned them a 1-0 win at neighbours Rayo Vallecano.

With second-placed Deportivo Coruna also winning on Sunday, 3-2 at Real Oviedo thanks to a Diego Tristan hat-trick and the cool head of midfielder-turned-keeper Donato, Real could not wrap up the title with three games still to play.

But with a six-point advantage and a better head-to-head record than Deportivo, victory at home to Alaves next week will give them an unassailable lead whatever Javier Irureta's side manage against Valladolid.

After 35 games, Real lead the standings with 73 points, followed by Deportivo on 67.

Champions League finalists Valencia kept their hold on third place with 62 points with a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Friday.

They were joined on that mark by Real Mallorca, who won 1-0 at Espanyol thanks to an Alberto Luque goal.

Valencia and Mallorca are both three points ahead of fifth-placed Barcelona, who maintained their challenge for a Champions League place next season with a 1-0 win at Alaves on Saturday.

Real were far from their best against Rayo but took the lead six minutes before halftime when Kasey Keller failed to hold a Roberto Carlos freekick, leaving Guti to tap in the rebound.

Rayo were reduced to 10 men eight minutes into the second half when Helder received a second yellow card for protesting at a Savio foul on Luis Cembranos.

Luis Figo, Raul and Guti all missed clear chances to secure the game before Rayo launched a late fightback. Michel's shot that clipped the bar on 75 minutes was the closest they came to an equaliser.

The real entertainment came in Deportivo's game against relegation threatened Oviedo.

Irureta's side took a two-goal lead in the first half and, after Jaime had pulled one back, Tristan completed his hat-trick.

The game ended in high drama, though, as Veljko Paunovic reduced the arrears with a header on 72 minutes.

Veteran midfielder Donato played in goal for the last five minutes of normal time, plus an agonising five minutes of injury-time, after Jose Molina was sent off after a second booking, apparently for time-wasting.

Deportivo held on, though, to ensure Real will have to wait until at least next week to clinch the title.

The bottom three sides in the standings -- Numancia, Racing Santander and Osasuna -- all drew, leaving the situation in the relegation dogfight very close.

By far the most exciting game of the day was Osasuna's 3-3 draw at home to Las Palmas. Two of the Las Palmas goals, both penalties, were scored by their goalkeeper Nacho Gonzalez.

Real Sociedad eased their relegation fears with a 4-0 win at home to Malaga that lifted them two places to 15th.