Real Madrid squander chance to lead in Spain

Real Madrid squandered their chance to possibly end the weekend as Spanish league leaders by going down 1-0 at Osasuna on Sunday.

The defeat brought to an end the European and world club champions' 15-game unbeaten streak and demonstated again that Pamplona - the city where Osasuna are based - holds a hoodoo for Real.

Last season a 3-1 defeat in mid-April, in the city famous for its bull running, effectively trampled on Real's ambitions of lifting the league.

Real now have 42 points from 22 games, two adrift of league leaders Real Sociedad, who play later on Sunday at Real Betis.

The defeat has also given hope to the reigning champions Valencia, who are third but only due to a slightly inferior goal difference following their 2-0 victory over Malaga on Saturday.

Osasuna's Christian Manfredini was the man responsible for inflicting Real's second defeat of the season.

In only his second game for Osasuna since arriving last month on loan from Lazio, the Ivory Coast-born midfielder showed he has had little trouble adjusting to his new environment by outpacing his marker Michel Salgado and sending home a low-flying thunderbolt after 38 minutes.

The hosts nearly got a second just after half time when Australian striker John Aloisi hit the post from close range.

Real's misery piled on when Luis Figo got his marching orders just after the hour for a outrageous tackle on Patxi Punal.

The pair had been feuding throughout the game but Figo lost all control after 62 minutes and made a sliding two-footed lunge at Punol, which left the Osasuna player still writhing in agony even as the Portuguese former World Player of the Year trudged towards the dressing rooms.

Shortly after Real had been reduced to 10 men, Osasuna hit the woodwork again with Inaki Munoz putting the ball on the cross bar.

However, Real were unlucky not to equalise in injury time when Fernando Morientes' header looked to have crossed the line, and the referee's decision to not award a goal will be a point debate over the next few days.