Iker Casillas played a starring role as Real Madrid clinched a 2-0 win over Real Zaragoza on Sunday that saw them restore their seven-point lead at the top of the Spanish championship.
Goals from Robinho and Ruud van Nistelrooy ensured the champions maintained their perfect home record and push Barcelona, who won 2-0 at Real Mallorca on Saturday, seven points adrift once again.
Spanish international Casillas produced countless saves to keep Zaragoza at bay before Real turned the screw.
PHOTO: EPA
"Today it was all about the strikers and a fantastic game from Iker," Real manager Bernd Schuster said. "Attackers usually get the headlines and it is often difficult for a goalkeeper but we know that we have one of the best in our goal."
After their 1-0 triumph over Barcelona on Dec. 23, many believed the title was a foregone conclusion but Real still look far from the finished article.
Also on Sunday Sevilla came out on top winning their local derby with Real Betis 3-0.
PHOTO: EPA
Luis Fabiano scored twice -- although one appeared to be with his hand -- to take his tally for the season to 12 and Daniel Alves added another as Sevilla closed in on the European places.
"It's a difficult game with all the history and passion attached to it but we were at home and deserved to win," Alves said.
The win was also the perfect preparation for Sevilla's last 16 cup clash against Barcelona tomorrow.
Without the injured Pepe, Real Madrid brought in the half-fit Gabriel Heinze at center-back and the move backfired when the Argentine international was forced off injured in the 14th minute.
Miguel Torres came on and the reshuffle had an impact with Real Zaragoza twice going close.
Ricardo Oliviera had the ball in the net on 22 minutes but the effort was ruled out for offside and then two minutes later Diego Milito went clean through but Casillas denied him with a point blank save.
Casillas produced two more fine saves while Oliviera rattled a shot against the post on the hour mark.
Real were clinical with Robinho providing a deft chipped cross for van Nistelrooy to head home in the 65th minute before he added a second himself.
Earlier Atletico Madrid moved back into the top four with a convincing 3-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna.
Atletico had not won at Depor's Riazor Stadium since 1995, but they ended that jinx in style and nudged Villarreal, who lost 3-0 to Espanyol on Saturday, down to fifth.
Diego Forlan, Argentine Kun Aguero and Jose Jurado were all on target for a rampant Atletico.
"I sense that the team know exactly what they want," Atletico coach Javier Aguirre said. "We took our chances. We are delighted because we can't afford to lose touch with the teams at the top."
For Depor it was another setback, they stay second from bottom.
Valencia finished fourth in the last campaign but they are seven points adrift of the final Champions League spot after a 0-0 draw against bottom side Levante.
Valencia have collected just three points from the last 18 and have not won since mid-November, a record which prompted jeers from their frustrated fans at the final whistle.
"I can't fault the fans because they were behind the team right until the end and their reaction was normal," Valencia coach Ronald Koeman said.
"I saw more positives than negatives although we need to be more dangerous going forward. The important thing is we are improving," he said.
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