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Real hit the mark, Barca slump to heavy defeat
Real Madrid closed the gap on Primera Liga leaders Barcelona to seven points with a clinical 3-0 win over city rivals Atletico as the Catalans slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Villarreal on Sunday.
Real had Brazilian striker Ronaldo and goalkeeper Iker Casillas to thank for their flattering victory over Atletico. The former World Player of the Year grabbed a coolly taken double with his only two chances while Casillas produced a brilliant rearguard action to keep a dominant Atletico at bay. The victory ended Atletico's unbeaten home record this season, and former player Santiago Solari compounded their misery by notching Real's second goal in another isolated attack. Out-of-sorts Barca fell victim to former player Juan Roman Riquelme, who masterminded Villarreal's emphatic victory at El Madrigal. The Argentine bossed the midfield and supplied passes for two of his side's goals. He prised open the Barca defence with a neat reverse pass to the feet of Uruguay striker Diego Forlan, who blasted home with a fierce left-foot shot on the half hour. He then hit a perfectly struck free kick behind the Barcelona defence to allow defender Gonzalo Rodriguez to poke home unopposed three minutes after the break. Forlan completed his double and took his tally for the season to nine when he poked home at the second attempt three minutes from time. With one match to go before the halfway point of the season Frank Rijkaard's side lead the table on 42 points from 18 matches. Real follow on 35, level with Valencia who beat neighbours Levante 2-1 on Saturday. Espanyol reclaimed fourth place in the standings after a sparkling 4-1 comeback win at home to Osasuna.
PRESSURE STORM Roared on by a capacity 54,000 crowd, Atletico subjected Real to a storm of pressure in the opening minutes at the Calderon. Although they were given a few scares Real managed to hold firm and responded with a goal in their one and only attack of the first half. Full back Roberto Carlos charged down the left flank and clipped the ball back across the area to the waiting Zinedine Zidane. The Frenchman miscued an attempted shot but the ball fell to Ronaldo who had time to pick his spot and fire into the top corner in the 14th minute. It was Atletico who continued to dominate, however, and they laid siege to the Real area in the final 15 minutes of the half. Casillas, however, produced a string of brilliant last-ditch saves to deny Torres and strike partner Salva Ballesta. It was the same story in the second half as Atletico peppered the Real goal and Casillas continued his goalkeeping masterclass to frustrate the home side. Real still managed to stretch their lead when Solari latched on to a sharp through pass from Raul to round keeper Leo Franco and guide the ball into the empty net nine minutes from time. Ronaldo made it three goals from three chances for Real when he produced another classy finish by drilling a low shot under Franco from the edge of the area after a great pass from Zidane.
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![Real Madrid's soccer player Raul (R) and teammate Brazilian Ronaldo (L) celebrate after scoring a goal during their Spanish League football match at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid. [AFP]](xin_580102100950209246987.jpg)
