Ronaldo to the rescue for Real

Brazilian striker Ronaldo saved Real Madrid when he scored a late goal to give the champions a barely deserved 1-1 draw away to a dominant Osasuna on Saturday.

The modest Navarrans, enjoying a great start to the season, took an early lead with a top-class finish from Ivory Coast striker Ibrahima Bakayoko.

But although they created a host of scoring chances Osasuna failed to extend their advantage and were made to pay when Ronaldo raced on to a through ball from David Beckham, outsprinted one defender, fended off another and tucked home the equaliser.

Real remained top of the table with a one-point advantage over Deportivo Coruna, who host Villarreal on Sunday, and three ahead of third-placed Valencia who could displace Real as leaders if they beat Zaragoza later on Saturday.

Osasuna moved back into fourth spot, a further four points behind Valencia.

Earlier, lowly Murcia were rewarded for their persistence when they twice came from behind to claim a 2-2 draw at home to Real Sociedad.

Murcia, who drew 2-2 with Valencia last week, remained 19th in the 20-strong league, while Sociedad moved up one place to 15th.

Real Madrid, who made the trip north without injured midfielders Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo and defender Roberto Carlos, began with Esteban Cambiasso and Guti in the centre of midfield, while Beckham reverted to his former position on the right flank.

But they never looked comfortable at a packed El Sadar and it was Osasuna who were the first to show when Bakayoko controlled a flying cross with his back to goal, swivelled round and volleyed just over the bar on five minutes.

Real failed to heed the early warning, though, and six minutes later the former Olympique Marseille player put the Navarrans ahead with a cool finish.

Receiving the ball on the edge of the area from fellow striker John Aloisi, Bakayoko checked inside Ivan Helguera and fired the ball past Real keeper Iker Casillas with a fierce left-foot finish.

The champions recovered their nerve a little on the half hour mark when Ronaldo produced a couple of his trademark jinking runs that provided the first threats to the Osasuna defence.

But it was Osasuna who continued to dominate as they poured through the middle and tormented the Real defence.

Bakayoko looked certain to extend the Navarrans' lead 12 minutes into the second half with a dizzying run into the heart of the Real area, but the striker was dispossessed just as he was about to line up his shot.

The Navarrans manufactured a host of further scoring chances but were unable to put the ball away and it was Primera Liga leading scorer Ronaldo who made them pay dearly when he scored the equaliser 16 minutes from time to take his tally for the season to 10 goals.