Victory gives Real Madrid the Top Position

A 2-0 win Saturday at lowly Betis ends Real Madrid's mini-crisis and puts them back on top of 'La Liga'.

The comfortable win leaves erratic Real with 18 points from 10 games, with six wins and four defeats.

Osasuna, Getafe, Barrcelona and Real Sociedad will all have the chance Sunday to overtake the 'Galacticos'.

Both teams were forced to field scratch teams in Seville, Real because of injuries and Betis because of suspensions.

Brazilian newcomer Robinho shot Real ahead in the 29th minute from outside the box. Compatriot Edu came close to equalizing for Betis after the restart, but his close-range header hit the post.

Substitute Alvaro Mejia made it 2-0 for Real 12 minutes from time with a clever header, his first-ever 'Liga' goal.

'Our attitude was much better today', said Real captain Raul Gonzalez. 'We were determined not to suffer a third-straight defeat.'

The latest defeat leaves hapless Betis fifth from bottom, with just two wins to their name.

Valencia next up for Real

After some tough times over the past two seasons, and still enduring their longest trophy-less streak for two decades, Real Madrid players and fans can now afford a smile of self-satisfaction.

The Spanish giants became league leaders last weekend after their fourth successive win, and their European campaign now is also back on track thanks to a thumping 4-1 win over Rosenborg in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Real's next hurdle will be to overcome the ever-competitive Valencia on Sunday, with the visitors currently lying fifth in the Spanish first division with just one loss to their name this season.

"Beating Valencia will be more difficult than beating Rosenborg. They are in good form at the moment," commented David Beckham on Thursday.

Real will have to beat the 2003-04 champions without either of the Brazilian strikers Ronaldo or Julio Baptista, who are both injured.

Ronaldo will be out for approximately a month after suffering a twisted left ankle during the 3-0 derby victory over Atletico last Saturday.

"The absence of Ronaldo is a relief because give him half a chance and he'll shine," said Valencia's Spanish international midfielder Vicente Rodriguez.

Julio Baptista will be on the sidelines for "between four and five weeks" according to Real medical staff on Thursday, after suffering a partial tear of a left knee ligament against Rosenborg.

The injuries to the Brazilian pair mean that club captain Raul Gonzalez and summer signing Robinho are likely to be the Real strike force against Valencia.

Rooney gets Raul vote

The Real Madrid forward believes the United player can go as far as he wants

IN SEPTEMBER 1995, AN 18-YEAR-OLD BY the name of Raúl González scored a hat-trick for Real Madrid in only the third Champions League match of his career against Ferencvaros in a 6-1 win. Nine years later, an 18-year-old by the name of Wayne Rooney was scoring a hat-trick on his Manchester United and Champions League debut as they crushed Fenerbahçe 6-2. Even the opponents sound the same.
The mild-mannered Spaniard has far more in common with the assassin-faced Rooney than their different temperaments may suggest. Raúl knows all about being billed as your team’s and country’s saviour before you are old enough to hold a driving licence and three European Cup winner’s medals and a record-breaking 50 tournament goals later, he is backing Rooney to turn out fine for United and England.



“He is a fabulous player, a match-winner,” Raúl said. “What is impressive about him is that he has so much character and that is important because it spreads to other players in the team and transmits to the opposition. When a team plays against Rooney, they know they are playing against a side that is going to give absolutely everything.

“The only defect he has is his temperament. In some periods of certain games it can distract him and it prevents him from doing the most important thing, which is to play his football. But he is young and if he manages to calm himself down, he is going to be a very important player in the next World Cup for England. If he concentrates on playing his football on the pitch then he will go as far as he wants to because he has so much quality.”

Fifty not out for Raul Gonzalez

Raul Gonzalez scored a record 50th goal in the Champions League, helping Real Madrid to a 2-1 victory over Greek club Olympiakos on Wednesday.

After midfielder Pantelis Kafes levelled for Olympiakos in the 48th on a 20-metre drive, substitute Roberto Soldado notched up the winner for Madrid on an 86th-minute header.

In another key result among eight second-rotation games on Wednesday, defending champion Liverpool drew 0-0 at Anfield against English champion Chelsea. Liverpool, which ousted Chelsea in last year's semifinals, faces Chelsea again on Sunday in a league match.

Among the winners were Italy's Inter Milan, Turkey's Fenerbahce, Spanish club Real Betis, French champion Lyon and Slovakia's Artmedia Bratislava.

In the Group F game in Madrid, Raul's goal moved him one ahead of Alfredo di Stefano and three ahead of Man United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy on the all-time scoring list for Europe's No. 1 cup.

The Spanish striker headed the ball behind Greek 'keeper Antonis Nikopolidis in the ninth minute, connecting on a long-range pass from David Beckham off the right wing.

Spain's World Cup place hinges on a goal feast

Spain's hopes of avoiding a potentially awkward playoff to make the World Cup soccer finals in Germany next year depend on tonight's performances by Group Seven's top three teams: Serbia & Montenegro, Spain and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Luis Aragonés' team must win against San Marino (Antena 3, 8:30pm) to make sure of at least second place in the group. But to lead the standings, and therefore avoid a two-game playoff series against other possible group runners-up such as France, Russia or Turkey, Spain depends on Serbia & Montenegro losing at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina - the first time the two countries have played each other in Belgrade.

If Bosnia wins - assuming that Spain beats lowly San Marino -, Spain will win the group and automatic qualification. If there is a tie in the Serbian capital, Spain will have the same number of points as Serbia & Montenegro, and the goal difference will be used to decide the group winner. If Raúl González and company can win by a five-goal margin, a tie in the other match would be enough for Spain to top the group.

"I am confident about Bosnia because they have a chance of making the World Cup, and they will give it their all," said Spain's Iván de la Peña on arriving at Rimini in Italy on Tuesday.

The shaven-headed midfielder seemed set to be included in an unusually attack-minded formation from coach Aragonés. Arsenal's José Antonio Reyes and striker David Villa have been practicing with the first team alongside the usual forward pairing of Raúl and Fernando Torres. After starting nine qualifying matches with both Joaquín Sánchez and Vicente Rodríguez on the team, Aragonés has finally decided to discard the two wingers and opt for the more versatile duo of Reyes and De la Peña behind the strikers.

The obvious reasons are Spain's urgent need for goals and San Marino's knack for allowing goals, 34 in nine matches, including five scored by Spain in Almería earlier this year. Villa is now the Spanish league's top scorer with six goals, while Reyes turned Spain's game against Belgium last Saturday. He was sent on as a second-half substitute and promptly assisted Torres' two goals to give Spain the 2-0 win.