Real Madrid CF secured a rousing 5-0 win
against Levante UD with Luís Figo and David Beckham delighting the
Santiago Bernabéu with spectacular strikes as the side regained second
spot in the Primera División.
Quick-fire goals It was a disappointing evening for visiting coach Bernd Schuster,
whose high-flying side were outclassed as they succumbed to their
heaviest defeat in more than 40 years. After Ronaldo had broken the
deadlock just before half-time, the home side scored four in 12 minutes
either side of the break to leave Levante reeling. Figo doubled the lead
shortly after the interval with a glorious drive from outside the area
and within a minute, Ronaldo was again on target.
Beckham strike
Beckham's 54th-minute goal mirrored Figo's earlier effort, as the
England captain, who had created Ronaldo's opener with a superb pass,
controlled the ball 30 metres out and jinked past defender Ian Harte
before unleashing a powerful drive that nestled in the top corner.
Substitute Michael Owen completed an excellent night for Madrid, tucking
in the fifth goal after a superb run by Guti, to close the gap behind
leaders FC Barcelona to seven points.
Valencia victory
Héctor Cúper endured an unhappy return to former club Valencia CF as RCD
Mallorca lost 2-0 after goals from Bernardo Corradi and Rubén Baraja to
ensure Claudio Ranieri's side ended a barren spell of ten games with a
win to go fourth. Real Betis Balompié are fifth after Ricardo Oliveira
scored twice in a 2-1 victory against Villarreal CF, who responded in
the second half through Antonio Guayre.
Sevilla sunk
Betis' city rivals Sevilla FC crashed to a 4-1 defeat at CA Osasuna.
Iñaki Muñoz broke the deadlock on 21 minutes before Carlitos Domínguez
levelled for the visitors 15 minutes later. Pierre Webó put Osasuna back
ahead ten minutes into the second half before Sevilla were reduced to
ten men when Javi Navarro was shown a second yellow card on 68 minutes.
Richard Morales and Mohammed El Yaagoubi then wrapped up the game late
on.
Depor draw
RC Deportivo La Coruña surrendered a two-goal lead as Real Sociedad de
Fútbol fought back to earn a 2-2 draw when Nihat Kahveci and Darko
Kovacevic peculiarly scored almost identical goals to Deportivo's
earlier efforts. Albert Luque had opened the scoring with a stunning
free-kick before Pedro Munitis's header. Elsewhere, struggling Málaga
CF's plight was not helped by a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Alabcete
Balompié.
29.11.2004 15:54 +0300 uefa.com Sunday, 28 November 2004
By Andy Hall
