Madrid - Real Madrid went level with Barcelona at the top of the Spanish league on Saturday with a colourful 4-2 home defeat of lowly Valladolid. In the absence of injured Cristiano Ronaldo and of jet-lagged Kaka, veteran striker Raul took centre stage with two goals in the first 18 minutes.
"It was great to score again," said the 32 year-old captain. "They made things difficult for us in the second half, but we clearly deserved to win."
Real are now level on 18 points with Barcelona, who are away to fifth-placed Valencia in Saturday's late match.
Raul made it 1-0 in the 13th minute by turning in a centre from Esteban Granero with his habitual opportunism. And five minutes later he added a second, this time with his weaker right foot, on a cross from left-back Marcelo.
Feeble Valladolid looked like lambs up for slaughter, but on the half hour Nauzet Aleman reduced arrears with a classy free-kick.
As so often this season, Real were not in total control and were not playing well. But they had sufficient firepower up front to breach the brittle Valladolid defence time and again.
Just before half-time Marcelo made it 3-1 with a right-foot drive after breaking free down the left. The Brazilian was keen to impress the Estadio Bernabeu crowd after an appalling display in the 2-1 defeat away to Sevilla two weeks ago.
In the 54th minute Marquitos scored Valladolid's second goal on a clever pass from Diego Costa, but supersub Gonzalo Higuain made it 4-2 for the hosts with a precise chip 11 minutes from time.
Real are now three points above Sevilla, who share third place with Deportivo Coruna after losing 1-0 in La Coruna earlier on Saturday, on a handsome goal from Juan Rodriguez.
Sevilla dominated possession in Riazor but lacked penetration in attack.
The only goal came in the 39th minute. Sevilla left-back Fernando Navarro messed up a clearance and Rodriguez broke the stalemate with a 35-yard screamer that gave goalkeeper Javi Varas no chance at all.
"It was important for us to win today," said Deportivo defender Alberto Lopo, "in order to keep close to the teams at the top of the table."
