Primera Liga

Another action packed night in whichReal Madrid restored their seven-point lead at the top of the Primera Liga on Sunday after downing Real Zaragoza, but it was far from comfortable for the leaders. Zaragoza created the better chances in the first hour of the match, but two goals in quick succession from Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robinho earned Real their ninth league win out of nine at the Bernabeu this season.

It also ensured Bernd Schuster's men did not see their advantage at the top of the table trimmed by second-placed Barcelona's victory on Saturday night. The opening 20 minutes passed by with precious little goalmouth action of note, with Real's best effort coming from a Julio Baptista header that was comfortably saved by Javier Lopez Vallejo.

At the other end, Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas also had a fairly comfortable start to the match, with Zaragoza's highly-rated strike duo of Ricardo Oliveira and Diego Milito being kept relatively quiet.

The game began to liven up after that though, with Oliveira convinced he had put Zaragoza ahead in the 22nd minute only to see his celebrations cut short by an offside flag, before Milito was denied by Casillas when clean through on goal.

Soon after Oliveira's disallowed effort, hosts Real created their best opening of the half through Miguel Torres, who was on as a replacement for the injured Gabriel Heinze. The young defender did well to work his way through the visiting defence and he was unlucky to see his chip over Lopez Vallejo blocked by a covering defender with the goal gaping.

Casillas was proving the busier of the two keepers in the first half though, and he was forced into a diving stop just before the break by Sergio Garcia'slow shot. League leaders Real continued to look out of sorts at the start of the second half as well, and Casillas was immediately called into action to push away Alberto Zapater's shot from the edge of the box.

Soon after that Real coach Schuster decided to make his second change of the match, bringing on playmaker Guti to the delight of the home fans. Despite that switch it was still Zaragoza who were looking the more likely scorers, and Carlos Diogo had a great chance to put his side ahead only to see his 59th-minute header superbly stopped on the line by Casillas.

Real were then saved by the woodwork two minutes later when Oliveira's shot from the corner of the area beat Casillas but ebounded back out off the far post. A first home league defeat in almost a year for Real looked on the cards at that point but, totally against the run of play, the champions managed to take an undeserved lead in the 66th minute.

For just about the first time in the match Robinho attacked his marker with speed and, having easily bypassed Zaragoza full-back Juanfran, the Brazilian then dinked in a pinpoint cross that Van Nistelrooy headed home from six yards out.

Robinho himself then made it 2-0 in the 77th minute. Zaragoza centre-back Sergio lost possession in Real territory and Baptista quickly fed the Brazilian who raced from the halfway line before firing home from the edge of the box. Raul could have made it 3-0 seconds later but he put the ball wide following Van Nistelrooy's low cross It was not to prove costly however even though Casillas was called into action to make two vital stops late on.