Ronaldo double sends Real five points clear
 21/02/2004
Ronaldo double sends Real five points clear
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MADRID, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Ronaldo struck with a controversial penalty and a
dazzling shimmy to help take Real Madrid five points clear with a 4-2 win away
to Espanyol on Saturday.
Real's
victory, which also featured goals from Roberto Carlos and Raul Bravo, gave them
some vital breathing space in their title battle with Valencia, who were beaten
1-0 at home to resurgent Barcelona.
With
the Champions League set to resume next week, Real lead the standings with 56
points from 25 games, followed by UEFA Cup hopefuls Valencia on 51.
Deportivo Coruna's hopes of making it a three-way fight for the championship
suffered a blow when they were held to a goalless draw away to Atletico Madrid,
leaving them third on 50 points.
Barcelona's fifth successive league win, clinched when the former Valencia
midfielder Gerard headed in from a corner, took them further clear in the race
for the fourth Champions League qualification place with 43 points.
Celta
Vigo and Real Sociedad, who will join Real Madrid and Deportivo in Champions
League action next week, both suffered morale-sapping defeats.
Celta,
who remain in relegation trouble, went down 2-0 at home to Malaga, while
mid-table Sociedad were beaten 1-0 at Sevilla.
LUCKY
BREAK
Real,
who needed a controversial last-minute penalty to claim a 1-1 draw against
Valencia last week, once again enjoyed the benefit of the doubt in the area when
Raul went down with his back to goal midway through the first half.
There
appeared to be little contact between Raul and Belgian goalkeeper Lemmens but
the referee pointed to the spot and Ronaldo gratefully slotted in to put Real
1-0 up.
Espanyol were incensed but the referee helped restore parity within five minutes,
ruling that Real keeper Iker Casillas had brought down Ivan de la Pena and
awarding another marginal penalty that Tamudo converted.
The
visitors, without the suspended David Beckham, laboured in the first half but
they were back to their slick-passing best after the break and made certain of
victory with three goals in 17 minutes.
Zinedine Zidane's raking pass picked out Ronaldo in the 53rd minute and the
striker teed up his fellow Brazilian Roberto Carlos to sweep in for 2-1.
Raul
Bravo met a corner from the right for Real's third and Ronaldo took a pass from
Esteban Cambiasso and beat the keeper for the fourth in the 70th minute.
Lopo
was left unmarked to score Espanyol's second six minutes from time after a poor
defensive header but Real's victory was never in doubt.
By
Kevin Fylan
