Real Madrid steal 1-0 victory at Valencia

A goal from captain Raul allowed Real Madrid to snatch a 1-0 win against Valencia at the Mestalla yesterday to stay third in the Primera Liga behind Barcelona and Sevilla.

Valencia dominated for long periods of an intense encounter but they paid the price for some profligate finishing while the visitors took full advantage of one of their rare attacks.

Raul steered home from eight metres out after Roberto Carlos had cut back a neat pass from the byline seven minutes into the second half.

Real are now just three points behind leaders Barcelona who crushed Villarreal 4-0 on Saturday.

Real Zaragoza missed a chance to keep the pressure on the leading trio when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Celta Vigo yesterday and are now three points adrift of Real in fourth spot.

There were goals galore at El Sardinero, Serbian striker Nikola Zigic scoring two and winning a penalty as Racing Santander beat in-form Recreativo Huelva 4-3.

Osasuna moved out of the relegation zone after their first win in eight outings with a 4-1 destruction of Deportivo Coruna while Real Mallorca won 3-2 at basement side Gimnastic.

Weekend results
Barcelona vs Villarreal 4-0; A. Madrid vs R. Sociedad 1-1; Celta Vigo vs Real Zaragoza 1-1; Getafe vs Levante 0-0; Gimnastic vs Real Mallorca 2-3; Osa-suna vs Deportivo 4-1; R. Santander vs Rec. Huelva 4-3; Real Betis vs Espanyol 1-1; Valencia vs Real Madrid 0-1; A. Bilbao vs Sevilla 1-3.