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Real Madrid move to top of La Liga

Sergio Ramos' goal on Sunday helped Real Madrid edge struggling Getafe 1-0 to move to the top of the La Liga table.

The defender ran in to turn Arjen Robben's pass over the line in the 65th minute following a swift counterattack. Ramos then briefly required treatment after colliding with the goal post.

The hard-earned victory made for a happy return to Getafe for Madrid coach Bernd Schuster, who led the home team for two seasons before his appointment by the powerhouse in July.

Madrid, which hadn't won on its previous three visits to its regional rival, was often made to look second-best by a Getafe team playing its best soccer so far this season.

In a rare first-half attack by Madrid, captain Raul Gonzalez's header was pushed onto the post by Getafe goalkeeper Oscar Ustari in the 12th.

Getafe, winless this season under new coach Michael Laudrup, also rattled the woodwork seven minutes later through forward Manu Del Moral's shot and went on to dominate the first half.

The visitors, lacking injured striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and defenders Pepe and Christophe Metzelder, continued to struggle after halftime and Ramos cleared off the line from Nacho Perez in the 53rd minute.

Following Ramos' goal, Getafe regained control but could not score, with substitute Kepa Blanco heading onto the bar in the final minute.

Villarreal stands in second place after a 1-0 victory over Athletico Bilbao after central defender Fabricio Fuentes looped his header home from Marcos Senna's floated cross in the 63rd to bring his team its fifth win in six games.

Valencia is third following its 1-0 win at Recreativo Huelva after David Villa got the winning goal in the sixth minute after picking up Carlos Marchena's through ball. The striker rounded Recreativo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino before firing into the net.

Recreativo coach Victor Munoz received a red card for protesting just before halftime, with the team's midfielder Carlos Martins also ejected for questioning a refereeing decision in the 84th.

Fifth-placed Atletico improved to 11 points after its 2-0 win over Osasuna as Raul Garcia scored with a long-range half-volley in the 38th minute, although the midfielder didn't celebrate the goal as it came against his former club.

Forward Sergio Aguero crowned a surging run by firing Atletico's second in the 83rd for his fifth goal of the season.

A 1-0 win by Espanyol 1-0 over Deportivo La Coruna meant an unhappy return for its coach Miguel Angel Lotina to Espanyol, with which he won the Copa del Rey last year.

Espanyol captain Raul Tamudo headed the only goal just before halftime.

Murcia crushed nine-man Valladolid 4-1 in a game between two promoted teams.

Valladolid right back Daniel Cifuentes was sent off in the 23rd for two yellow cards, four minutes before Quique De Lucas shot Murcia into the lead.

Valladolid goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle was then ejected for a foul in the 31st.

However, striker Joseba Llorente headed Valladolid's equalizer in the 49th only for Fernando Baiano to restore Murcia's advantage in the 76th minute.

Ivan Alonso added the third goal with a free kick which went in the goal and through the netting. It was initially disallowed before the visitors' protests led the referee to change his mind.

Abel Gomez compounded Valladolid's misery with a fourth goal in the 88th.

Santander beat the league's other promoted side, Almeria 1-0. Almeria is winless at home this season.

Ezequiel Garay's eighth-minute goal was enough to bring Santander its first away victory of the season.

Real Betis beat Mallorca 3-0 for its first win at Manuel Ruiz de Lopera stadium since Jan. 28, providing relief for coach Hector Cuper. Betis' Xisco Munoz scored in the 59th and Rafael Sobis and Edu Schmidt scored in the 76th and 90th.
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