Madrid, Jan 31 (DPA) Real Madrid managed to stay within five points behind Spanish leaders Barcelona late Saturday by winning 2-1 away to fifth-placed Deportivo Coruna, with two goals from Karim Benzema.
It was Real’s first win in Riazor since 1991 and keeps alive the whites’ slender hopes of overtaking Barca.
Earlier Saturday, Barca had won 1-0 win away to midtable Sporting Gijon, on a goal from new idol Pedro.
Barca now have 52 points from 20 games, Real have 47.
“Barca’s win meant that we too had to win,” said Real veteran Guti, who ran the game from midfield.
“We were very good tonight,” he added, “and we should continue like this.”
Real went into the game without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo and several injury victims.
However, they turned in their best first-half performance of the season, against opponents who looked insecure and nervous.
Esteban Granero headed Real ahead in the 14th minute after a mistake from defender Laure. Benzema made it 2-0 four minutes before half-time, after a classy backheel from Guti.
Four minutes from time Riki pulled a goal back for the hosts from the penalty spot after having won a dubious spot-kick for himself with a shameless dive.
But Benzema settled the issue in injury-time, making it 3-1 after good work down the right by Alvaro Arbeloa.
Real went out onto the pitch knowing that anything less than victory would be a disaster, because of Barca’s win in Gijon.
As usual, Barca dominated from start to finish but, just for a change, were wasteful in attack. Gijon were spirited throughout, but failed to create a single clear chance to equalize once Pedro had put the visitors ahead.
That happened in the 29th minute, when a thoughtful free-kick from Andres Iniesta put through the rapid Pedro, who scored with a precise left-foot shot at the near post, despite a suspicion of offside.
Pedro, chosen ahead of fading veteran Thierry Henry, has been the revelation of the season and will probably be part of Spain’s World Cup squad, even though he has still to make his international debut.
Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Pedro all missed good chances to seal the win in the second half, but in the end that didn’t matter at all.
Barca coach Josep Guardiola said that “we have played well, in a stadium where very few teams have been able to win.”
He added that “this win has a lot of merit,” but bemoaned the fact that “we didn’t make the right decisions in attack.”
Saturday’s early game was a tight 1-0 home win for Espanyol over Athletic Bilbao.
The only goal came in the 59th minute when Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz failed to hold a shot from Javi Marquez, and former Spain striker Luis Garcia made it 1-0 by netting the rebound.
“It was important for us to win today in order for us to get away from the relegation zone,” said Garcia. “It was not an easy game, but we managed to keep our concentration.”
Espanyol are now seventh from bottom, with 23 points from 20 games. Bilbao are eighth, with 30 points.
rounak