Madrid Outrun Racing To Go Ten Clear

It wasn't spectacular for the entire ninety, but Real Madrid were the better side at the Sardinero. They had to weather a few scares, but overall they were worthy of their two-goal victory, and thus took three points with them back to the Bernabéu to bring the Liga title one step closer to the capital.

Racing, meanwhile, passed up some fine chances from set-pieces, particularly late in the first half, and ultimately rued a lack of cutting edge as they lost out at fortress Sardinero.

First Half

Madrid started by far the better side, playing with an uncommon level of pace that saw the hosts pinned back into their own half.

Sneijder and Robinho were particularly active early on, and although Toño had relatively little to do early on, it was clear that a great chance wasn't long in coming.

When it was, it resulted in a goal, and it fell to Raúl. A great cross-field ball from Sneijder met Robinho, who threaded a beautiful low cross goalwards from the left flank. With Toño anticipating a stabbed finish from the captain, Raúl instead made only the slightest contact, and the bail continued on its goalward trajectory to make it 1-0.

Serrano then set about equalising at the other end by setting up Colsa, but the midfielder hit the ball just over the bar. However, Robben and Sneijder had chances of their own at the other end.

Nontheless, Racing were beginning to show their worth from set pieces, although on two occasions César Navas missed the target with free headers as the Santander men finished the half confidently.

Second Half

For that fine end to the first period, though, the verdiblancos still had some catching up to do.

However, although Tchité and his ilk were still full of pace, Madrid's deep defending was paying dividends. On thos occasions that the marauding Diarra didn't mop up the danger, Heinze was in irrepressible form - ostensibly in a left-back position, but in fact all across the box.

Smolarek and Pablo Álvarez came on as Racing sought to fight back, but in fact Diarra had the first truly fine chance of the second half when Diarra set up Robinho for a near-post shot that Toño had to parry clear.

Madrid were beginning to tire a bit, and Gago - who was otherwise impressive - almost allowed Tchité through on goal, only for Heinze to come to the rescue.

Higuaín came on for Robinho as visiting coach Bernd Schuster himself tried to inject some urgency to proceedings, although the next chance came from Robben. He really should have done better: Sneijder's through ball was deflected high past a sleeping Racing defence to the onrushing Robben, but the ex-Chelsea man, one-on-one, shot wide.

Madrid had the ball in the net ten minutes from time, but Higuaín's poke over the line from one yard was ruled out due to Raúl's impeding the supine Toño, who had kept the original effort out of goal.

The Sardinero side still looked impressive from set pieces at the other end, but belief was beginning to seep out of their play as full time approached, and eventualy even their ability from corners deserted them.

Madrid had done enough for all three points, and this was only confirmed when Gonzalo Higuaín took advantage of Racing's all-out approach to attacking with the closing goal deep into stoppage time. Baptista and Balboa played the one two before the Equatorial Guinean cut it back for the Argentine, who drove the ball low past Toño.


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