Reyes leads Real into three-way tie in Spain
A brilliant freekick from Jose Antonio Reyes pushed all talk of crisis into the background as Real Madrid joined Barcelona and Sevilla at the Spanish league summit following a 1-0 win at Real Mallorca.
A brilliant freekick from Jose Antonio Reyes pushed all talk of crisis into the background as Real Madrid joined Barcelona and Sevilla at the Spanish league summit following a 1-0 win at Real Mallorca.
The manner of the win was workmanlike at best, but Reyes' superb strike 13 minutes from time from a freekick awarded after Fernando Navarro had fouled the former Arsenal man, deserved to win any match.
The three points hauled Real onto 38 points from 19 games - the midway point of the season, although Barcelona have a game in hand and a superior goal difference having swamped Gimnastic Tarragona 3-0 at the Nou Camp.
Sevilla drew 0-0 at Villarreal on Saturday to make it three games without a win for the southerners even if they still share the leadership.
Real achieved their win in the continued absence of unwanted stars David Beckham and Ronaldo - the former having agreed to join Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer, if not before, and the latter believed to be on his way to AC Milan.
Striker Raul, one of a dwindling band of pre-Beckham era stars, missed Sunday's win with injury but despite several minor scares Real came through the evening relatively untroubled.
"Today was a massive win," said Real's sporting director Pedja Mijatovic.
"I think we can play better but I'm happy."
Pressed on the future of the club's discarded galacticos he told Canal Plus television: "Now is not the time to speak about such things!"
Ruud Van Nistelrooy and newcomer Higuain missed early chances for Real and Sergio Ramos then headed against the woodwork although Mallorca gave as good as they got with Maxi Lopez forcing Iker Casillas into two smart saves.
Earlier Sunday, Barcelona roared back to the top by beating rock-bottom Tarragona.
An opportunist left-footed strike from inside the area by Javier Saviola saw Barca break the deadlock in the 18th minute for the Argentine's ninth goal in just a dozen games this season - a return which could shortly net him a new contract.
Frederic Giuly added Barca's second midway through the second half from close range and Andres Iniesta hit the third with a crisp effort.
Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard said he was satisfied with a routine win, which had a small section of the crowd voicing impatience at one stage and again when he withdrew their favourite Saviola for Eidur Gudjohnsen.
"On the face of it it looked like an easy one, but it wasn't. It was a routine win against well-organized rivals. And we had to go out there and look for it," the Dutchman said.
Spanish international striker David Villa scored the only goal as Valencia moved to within two points of the top with a 1-0 win at struggling Real Sociedad.
Villa struck on 28 minutes to lift Valencia, who won the title in 2004.
Atletico are a point behind Valencia in fifth spot after beating seven-man Osasuna 1-0 on Saturday with Ze Castro on target after Fernando Torres missed a penalty.
Osasuna finished the match with just seven men on the pitch after four players were red-carded.
In other games Sunday, Gefafe, coached by former Real and Barcelona favourite Bernd Schuster, beat Celta Vigo to move to the fringes of the top six with Manu del Moral on target after just 39 seconds while Vigo had Chilean defender Pablo Contreras dismissed for two bookings.
On a day where goals were scarce, Real Betis and Racing Santander parted 1-1, leaving the former in the drop zone.
Deportivo La Coruna and Espanyol, bottom five inhabitants Levante and Athletic Bilbao and UEFA Cup aspirants Real Zaragoza and Recreativo Huelva all failed to find the net in their clashes.