Villa wonder strike takes limelight from four-goal Real
Real Madrid crushed Espanyol 4-0 as Brazilian World Cup star Ronaldo marked his return from injury with a goal but it was Valencia striker David Villa who grabbed the headlines with a remarkable long distance strike.
Real Madrid crushed Espanyol 4-0 as Brazilian World Cup star Ronaldo marked his return from injury with a goal but it was Valencia striker David Villa who grabbed the headlines with a remarkable long distance strike.
Villa registered his 14th league goal of the season in thrilling fashion.
He found the net in the 22nd minute when he spotted Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper Jose Molina off his line and scored from 50 metres as his side avenged their midweek Spanish Cup defeat.
The 1-0 win keeps Valencia in second place to maintain the pressure on leaders Barcelona.
They are nine points behind although the defending champions can restore their 12 point lead when they take on Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Skipper Guti and French star Zinedine Zidane, with two goals, joined Ronaldo on the scoresheet for Real who stay third, 10 points off the pace.
Real even received a standing ovation at half-time at the Santiago-Bernabeu when they opened up a 3-0 lead.
The win also kept up their unbeaten record in 2006 and represented their fourth consecutive win of the championship.
Real were also solid at the back where Alvaro Mejia and Jonathan Woodgate formed a formidable partnership.
"This was a very important victory as we were facing a very good team," said Real coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro.
"We are working well and we must continue improving."
David Beckham set up the first goal with the cross that found Guti to open the score in the 14th minute.
Zidane made it 2-0 with a right foot shot two minutes before the break before Ronaldo, back in the team after a month on the sidelines, headed in the third in injury time.
It was the Brazilian's 10th league goal of the season.
Zidane wrapped up the points in the 51st minute to register his sixth goal of the campaign.
Bottom club Malaga gave new boss Manuel Ruiz Hierro a winning start with a 2-1 victory at home to fellow strugglers Athletic Bilbao.
Defender Carlos Litos put Malaga in front before Aritz Aduritz fired Athletic level.
Despite having Perez Nacho sent off in the second half, Malaga secured the three points through Salva Ballesta in the 73rd minute.