Soccer: Real return to top after convincing win
Luis Aragaones’ side managed to take the lead against the visitors when Fernando Correa tucked the ball underneath Iker Casillas on 11 minutes. However, they failed to hang onto the lead as Raul squared things up on 45 minutes and Ronaldo put Real a goal up just 10 minutes later.
The result was settled when Luis Figo converted a penalty on 69 to wrap up a win that lifts Real one point above Valencia.
Deportivo La Coruna closed the gap on the top two as they recorded a 2-1 home win over bottom club Espanyol. They had to come from behind for the win after Jordi Cruyff had given the visitors the lead on 16 minutes.
Albert Luque levelled matters on the stroke of half time and an own goal from Moreno Torricelli gave Depor all three points at the Riazor.
Fourth-placed Osasuna slipped up at home when a David Villa (35) strike gave Real Zaragoza a much needed victory.
Athletic Bilbao had to settle for a point at Albacete. Carlos Aranda had put the hosts in front on 14 minutes but Santiago Ezquerro scored for Bilbao five minutes before the break. Villarreal move up to fifth in the table after two late goals gave them a win at struggling Real Betis.
Sonny Anderson opened the scoring on 75 minutes, but Betis hit back five minutes later through Juanito, despite being down to ten men after the dismissal of Daniel Lembo. However, Villarreal clinched the win as Antonio Guayre netted on 88 minutes and Jose Mari sealed it just a minute later.
Murcia remain in trouble after slipping to a home defeat to Malaga.
Insua Federico put the away team one up on 16 minutes but there was hope for Murcia, when David Karanka equalised six minutes later.
In Italy, AC Milan missed the chance to close the gap on Serie A leaders Roma as they were slipped up at home to Udinese. The Rossoneri got off to the worst possible start as the visitors took the lead in the first minute through Dino Fava.
Andrea Pirlo then missed a penalty for Milan and Udinese doubled their lead on 52 minutes when Valerio Bertotto netted. Cafu managed to pull one back for the hosts but they were unable to find an equaliser.
Juventus took partial advantage of Milan’s slip up as they leapfrogged above them into second, although they had to thank David Trezeguet’s late 1-1 draw at Leece.
Axel Konan had given Lecce a shock lead after 25 minutes and the reigning champions looked to be in trouble when Mark Juliano was given his marching orders just before the hour mark.
However, French striker Trezeguet equalised with just three minutes remaining to clinch a draw, a result that leaves Lecce still struggling in the bottom three.
Francesco Totti had fired Roma six points clear at the top with both goals in their 2-0 win over Empoli on Saturday night.
The Giallorossi captain sent the visitors on their way with the opening goal on 23 minutes converting from the penalty spot. Totti grabbed his second on the stroke of half time to double Roma’s lead and leave Empoli with a mountain to climb
Lazio did their rivals a favour last night, by coming back from a goal down to defeat Inter 2-1. The visitors grabbed a 30th minute lead though Christian Vieira, but Corradi and a late Zauri strike earned Lazio all three points.
Dejan Stankovic has revealed he has agreed to join Inter from Lazio. The Serbia and Montenegro man’s current contract at Lazio expires in the summer and it seems almost certain that the skilful midfielder will make the move to the Giuseppe Meazza in January when the transfer window reopens.
“I am in a position to choose now and I can say I choose Inter,” Stankovic said. “I want to win and sooner or later Inter must break through this taboo and return to lifting trophies.
"The fans did not want me to go and the press has said for months that I didn’t want to sign a new contract. It was all talk. Only the club and I know what really happened.”
In France, Monaco suffered only their second defeat of the season as Rennes made off with all the points at Stade Route-de-Lorient.
Didier Deschamps’ side have a commanding lead in Le Championnat, but their Christmas break will not be as happy as it might have been after Cedric Barbosa scored just after the break to hand Rennes all three points. Didier Drogba’s second half effort lifted Marseille to a 1-0 win over basement outfit Toulouse.
In Holland, Ajax suffered just their second Eredivisie loss of the campaign after a surprise 2-0 defeat at the hands of Twente at the Arke Stadion.
The Amsterdam giants could have overtaken rivals PSV Eindhoven had they taken just a point from the clash, but instead remain level on 37 points with a game in hand.
PSV missed out on the chance to pull away from Ajax after being held by Vitesse Arnhem on Saturday, but their inability to claim all thee points went unpunished.
* Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni has confirmed he will depart from his post following next summer’s European Championships in Portugal.
“In football, there is still need for a new stimulus,” he said.
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