Real back on top after hard-fought win

Real Madrid beat Deportivo Coruna 2-1 in a fast and furious game at the Bernabeu on Sunday to extend their perfect home league record and stay two points clear at the top of the table.

Ronaldo put Real ahead in the final minute of the first half but Deportivo hit back in the 63rd minute when Walter Pandiani scored within 15 seconds of coming on as a substitute.

Real, needing to win to stay clear of Valencia at the top, got the winner five minutes from time when Raul turned in a cross from Roberto Carlos.

The result gave Real 36 points from 16 matches and kept them two points ahead of Valencia, who had briefly gone top after winning 1-0 at Real Betis with an own goal from Juanito.

Deportivo stay third, now six points behind the leaders, with Osasuna fourth on 27 points after a goalless draw away to Racing Santander.

But Osasuna could eventually find themselves two points better off, after Racing briefly exceeded the limit on non-European Union players in their side.

Coach Lucas Alcaraz quickly rectified the situation but in recent years the Spanish Football Federation has punished similar slip ups by awarding victory to the opposing side.

Real's eighth successive home league win since the start of the season came courtesy of two precise close range finishes from strike partners Ronaldo and Raul.

"When a player like Raul is in form it's easy to guess he's going to score," said Real coach Carlos Queiroz.

The game ended on an ugly note when Depor's Argentine midfielder Lionel Scaloni had a bad tempered run-in with England captain David Beckham, with the players pulling each other to the ground.

The referee showed each player a yellow card.