Sunday, February 1, 2009

SIX WINS IN A ROW FOR REAL

Raul equalled Real Madrid's all-time scoring record to send his side on their way to victory at lowly Numancia.
The 31-year-old striker netted his 307th goal for the Real, where he has spent his entire professional career, and Arjen Robben added a classy second to narrow the gap on leaders Barcelona, who play Racing Santander on Sunday.
The gap is still nine points and may be back to 12 in 24 hours' time, but tonight's win was Real's sixth in a row in the league at least maintains the pressure on their arch-rivals.
In contrast, Numancia are becoming increasingly embroiled in a relegation battle having lost three on the bounce, although it could have been a story had they taken their early chances at La Parajeto.
The hosts tasted first blood when Gonzalez Boris headed straight at goalkeeper Iker Casillas from Jose Barkero's cross and that set the tone for much of the first half as they refused to be daunted by their superior opponents.
Javier Del Pino had the best chance in the 27th minute, his header crashing back off the right post with Casillas helpless, and Gorka Brit also squandered a good opportunity when his half-volley from a tight angle squeezed the wrong side of the near post.
Madrid also had their chances. Gonzalo Higuain's long-range shot was gathered at the second attempt by keeper Colinas Juan Pablo early on and Gabriel Heinz had a header cleared off the line by Boris.
In between those chances, Robben set up Fernando Gago after a jinking run down the right, but the midfielder mistimed his shot and it scuffed harmlessly wide.
Higuain again tried his luck from distance as half-time approached, and Madrid perhaps would have considered themselves fortunate to reach the break with 11 men still on the pitch as Sergio Ramos, booked in the seventh minute for a hack on Del Pino, committed a series of untidy fouls.
The second half was just three minutes old when Madrid broke the deadlock. Robben, lively all game, surged into the heart of the Numancia defence before laying off to Higuain, whose shot was palmed away by Juan Pablo.
The rebound fell straight to Raul though, who bundled home from close range for his 307th goal, equalling Alfredo di Stefano's all-time record.
Eight minutes later Robben doubled the lead with his fifth goal of the season. The diminutive Dutchman, having just been fouled, took a quick free-kick, received the ball straight back and slalomed in between Numancia's defence before swerving to his left on the edge of the box and dispatching a low shot into the bottom left corner.
Thereafter the chances dried up, the champions seemingly happy to sit back on their lead.
Jose Barkero tried his luck from a 25-yard free-kick in the 74th minute but curled it well over, and Numancia were then given a lifeline when Gago was dismissed five minutes later for a second booking.
It proved irrelevant to the result, however, as Real shut up shop for the final 10 minutes.

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