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Valencia beats Real Madrid

Valencia's Vicente Rodriguez, right, vies for the ball with Madrid's Michel Salgado in Mestalla Stadium, Saturday. PHOTO: AFP

Brazilian substitute Ricardo Oliveira netted his first league goal for Valencia on Saturday as his team downed a disappointing Real Madrid 2-0 and moved to the top of the Spanish league.

Striker Miguel Angel Ferrer also scored in a deserved victory which brought the champion's first league defeat of the season.

The win lifted Valencia above Deportivo de La Coruna, which lost its 100 percent record this season with a 3-2 defeat at Osasuna.

In other fifth-round games, Real Sociedad was beaten 1-0 at Athletic de Bilbao, while Celta de Vigo defeated Valladolid 3-2.

Valencia has 13 points, one more than Deportivo. Madrid stays on 10 points, above fourth-place Osasuna on goal difference.

Madrid, lacking injured striker Raul Gonzalez and Ivan Helguera, hardly troubled goalkeeper Santiago Canizares in its first match of the season against a potential title rival.

Valencia began at a gallop and took the lead after five minutes when Mista clipped home Jorge Lopez's low cross while Madrid defender Francisco Pavon collided with goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

The home side suffered a blow on the half hour when Argentine forward Pablo Aimar, who had began the game in sparkling form, was replaced by its summer signing from Santos, Oliveira.

Yet Madrid failed to respond, with only Luis Figo -- making his 100th appearance for the club -- and defender Raul Bravo coming close before the interval.

Valencia remained in control and extended its lead in the 72nd minute when Oliveira lashed the ball home from close range after Madrid had failed to clear successive shots by the Brazilian himself and midfielder Ruben Baraja.
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