Raul Wins It for Real

[MUFC]

Real Madrid kept up the pressure on league leaders Valencia thanks to the Spanish international Raul Gonzalez who scored twice in the last 12 minutes to give Real Madrid a 3-1 victory over Racing Santander.

Real now have 19 points from eight games, and lie in second place ahead of Saturday's late game which pits Deportivo, who started the weekend in second place, against unbeaten Valencia.

Valencia have the points as Real, but a better goal difference than the reigning Spanish champions, while Deportivo are just one point further back.

Both of Raul's goals were easy strikes after others had done all the hard work but, to quote the old soccer saying, they all count.

He found the net from close range with 12 minutes to go after Luis Figo had managed to turn the ball back from the line.

Raul's fifth goal of the season came in the dying seconds of the game after Santiago Solari had his shot parried away by Racing's former Manchester United keeper and the ball fell to his feet for an easy tap into an empty goal.

However, the scoreline flattered Real who sometimes seemed to struggle in the midfield in the absence of the injured David Beckham.

Racing's Israeli international Yossi Benayoun silenced the sell-out Santiago Bernabeu stadium by firing a Fernando Moran cross past Real goalie Iker Casillas on the half-volley after 15 minutes.

Real regained their composure and Zinedine Zidane levelled the scores 11 minutes later, with a right foot volley from a pass from Ronaldo, but Racing several times threatened to add a second goal before Raul got his brace of late goals.

Malaga won 2-1 over Real Zaragoza thanks to first half goals from Litos and Salva Ballesta, before the visitors got a late consolation two minutes from time from Goran Drulic.

However, the Costa Del Sol club's delight at getting three vital points was tempered by the fact that they are likely to be without their influential Portuguese midfielder Duda for several weeks.

Duda, who has started every Malaga game this season, was stretched off midway through the second half with a severely sprained right ankle.