Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain scored as Real Madrid beat Racing Santander 2-0 to ensure they stayed tied with Barcelona at the top of the Spanish league on Sunday.
Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute, firing his 18th goal of the season past Fabio Coltorti after being tripped as he broke into the area.
Jose Maria “Guti” Gutierrez sent Higuain clear in the 76th to score his 24th of the season.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Madrid and Barcelona both have 77 points but Madrid are ahead on goal difference heading into Saturday’s game between Spain’s two biggest clubs at the Bernabeu.
Earlier, David Villa’s two late goals helped Valencia beat Osasuna 3-0 and kept his club clear in third.
Madrid were without Kaka (groin) and suspended regulars Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos at El Sardinero, where golf great Seve Ballesteros was in the stands to watch Madrid labor to victory.
Sergio Canales, playing against Madrid for the first time since agreeing to join the Spanish giant from next season, nearly scored against his future club in the 16th.
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas came out of his goal to clear his lines following a Santander move started by Canales, who had the ball land to him but whose long-range shot shaved the post.
Jose Moraton tripped Ronaldo as the forward came flying into the area to set up the opener.
A physical game continued with neither side able to breach the other’s area, but Guti’s entry for Esteban Granero in the 61st gave Madrid some inspiration.
Higuain collected a well-flighted pass and slid his finish into the net. Higuain and Ronaldo have scored more than half of the club’s 83 goals this campaign.
Guti latched onto a loose ball in the 81st but his high shot hit the crossbar, while Ronaldo volleyed Higuain’s pass over the bar in the 86th with Coltorti beaten.
At the Mestalla, Joaquin Sanchez opened the scoring in the 48th after getting a slight touch to Juanma Mata’s center to trickle the ball past goalkeeper Ricardo Lopez.
Villa guided Pablo Hernandez’s cross past Lopez in the 90th before the Osasuna goalkeeper tripped Villa for an injury time penalty, which he netted.
Pierre Webo’s 88th-minute equalizer earned Mallorca a 1-1 draw at Almeria to remain fourth, on goal difference over Sevilla.
Atletico Madrid earned a convincing 3-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna with Juanito Gutierrez, Diego Forlan and Tiago all scoring in the Spanish capital.
Valladolid’s relegation worries continued following a 2-0 defeat to Villarreal, while last-place Xerez managed a 2-2 draw at Sporting Gijon.
Also, Espanyol rallied to draw 1-1 at Getafe, Pablo Osvaldo cancelling out Manu Del Moral’s 28th-minute opener with a looping shot in the 50th.
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