Real scramble late 2-1 win over Osasuna

Late strikes from Michael Owen and Ivan Helguera enabled Real Madrid to scramble a 2-1 win at Osasuna that kept them in touch with arch-rivals Barcelona at the top of the Primera Liga on Sunday.

Trailing 1-0 to a Pierre Webo strike with just 13 minutes left, Owen threw himself at the ball to head home from close range and moments later Helguera stabbed in from a metre after Osasuna keeper Richard Sanzol spilled a David Beckham free kick.

The victory, Real's seventh in a row, left them four points behind Barcelona after 23 games, although the Catalans showed no sign of loosening their grip on top spot when they overpowered Real Zaragoza 4-1 at La Romareda on Saturday.

Sevilla leapfrogged Valencia into third place, a distant nine points behind Real, after a double from Julio Baptista helped them to a 2-1 win at home to Villarreal on Sunday.

The Brazilian striker put the Andalucians in front before halftime with a clever glancing header and doubled their lead from the penalty spot eight minutes from time.

Villarreal, who had won their previous five games, clawed a goal back in the closing minutes when Juan Roman Riquelme netted a penalty after Sevilla defender Aitor Ocio was controversially dismissed for being adjudged to have committed a foul in the area.

Espanyol drew level with Claudio Ranieri's side on 38 points after injury-time goals gave them a 2-0 win at home to Getafe.

Osasuna set a breathless pace in the driving rain at El Sadar as they outfought Real in midfield, dominated possession and then proceeded to lay siege to the Madrid goal.

If it had not been for two sharp saves from their keeper Iker Casillas, Real would have been two goals down after the first 20 minutes.

The Spanish international tipped a Richard Morales header onto the bar after a Patxi Punal free kick and then produced a fine diving save to turn a Rafael Clavero drive around the post.

Embattled Real had to rely on sporadic counter-attacks and their only clear chance of the half came when Beckham found Ronaldo on the edge of the area but the Brazilian spurned his chance as he sent a weak shot into the arms of Sanzol.

The Real back four struggled to cope with Osasuna striker Morales and it was the towering Uruguayan who provided a neat headed assist for Webo to open the scoring after 36 minutes.

The Cameroon forward made the most of his chance as he touched the ball past Helguera with his right and then lashed past Casillas at the near post with a venomous left-foot shot.

Osasuna should have extended their lead on the stroke of halftime when the unmarked Morales sliced over from five metres after Pablo Garcia picked him out with a fine through pass.

Javier Aguirre's side continued to dominate after the break and former Real youth player Valdo was denied first by Casillas and then the woodwork with fine shots from the edge of the area.

But Osasuna were paid for their wastefulness when they shipped two late goals from set pieces to gift Real a vital win.

Owen began the comeback when he launched himself to head across the line after a Raul shot rebounded off keeper Sanzol into his path from a Roberto Carlos free kick.

Three minutes later Helguera poked home from a metre after Sanzol spilled Beckham's swirling free kick in the driving rain.