Substitute Jose Maria “Guti” Gutierrez and Raul Gonzalez notched second-half goals to lead Real Madrid over Espanyol 2-0 for the Spanish champion’s 10th straight league victory on Saturday.
The win moved Madrid to within four points of leader Barcelona.
Guti, who replaced Wesley Sneijder in the 59th minute, curled a left-footed shot over the defensive wall in the 67th, the ball bouncing off the left post and back off goalkeeper Carlos Kameni before landing in goal. Raul’s 14th goal of the season came from nearly the identical spot at the edge of the area in the 72nd after turning in Marcelo’s pass after the Brazil player’s smart run.
Barcelona leads the league with 60 points, followed by Madrid with 56, Sevilla 47 and Villarreal 41.
Earlier, Frederic Kanoute scored twice as Sevilla beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in a preview of an upcoming Copa del Rey semifinal.
An Athletic mistake in the 39th minute allowed Aquivaldo Mosquera to cross to Kanoute, who controlled the high pass, held off his marker and volleyed the bouncing ball in with his right foot. The Mali striker, who threatened twice early in the second half, then controlled Ndri Romaric’s cross in the 58th and after creating space sent a low shot inside the left post for his 10th goal of the season.
West Ham beat Manchester City
{{/usCountry}}West Ham beat Manchester City
{{/usCountry}}London: West Ham moved up to seventh in the English Premier League after a 1-0 win over Manchester City at Upton Park on Sunday.
The Hammers were the better side in the first half and their stylish play finally produced a goal in the 71st minute, when City keeper Shay Given could only parry Savio’s shot and Jack Collison turned in the rebound.