Cloudy night for the Madrid stars

League front-runners Valencia will take a four-point lead if they beat Real Betis at home later today and, with only three more rounds remaining, would be a clear favourite to win the title for the second time in three seasons.

Striker Diego Tristan and left back Joan Capdevila netted in each half yesterday for Deportivo, which extended its excellent home record over Madrid.

Despite Deportivo fielding an understrength team to save its first-choice players for the second leg of its Champions League semifinal with FC Porto on Tuesday, Madrid couldn8217;t end its 12-year stretch without a win at the Riazor Stadium.

Valencia has 71 points from 34 games, while Madrid, which has lost three of its last four matches, has 70 from 35. FC Barcelona, which hosts Espanyol today, has 66 points, one more than Deportivo.

In yesterday8217;s other match, Atletico de Madrid downed lowly Celta de Vigo 3-2 and moved into sixth place.

Deportivo8217;s modified team struggled at first against a forceful Madrid with Argentine midfielder Esteban Cambiasso hitting the post with a sixth-minute volley from Luis Figo8217;s cross from the right.

Yet it was Deportivo which took the lead after a counterattack in the 29th minute when Tristan shot home after goalkeeper Iker Casillas had parried midfielder Sergio Gonzalez8217;s shot with his legs.

David Beckham, who clashed with Deportivo8217;s Lionel Scaloni in the teams8217; match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in December, received a kick from the Argentine midfielder which went unseen by the referee in the 34th.

Madrid8217;s star midfielder responded a minute later by tripping Capdevila and was cautioned, as were his teammates Zidane and right back Michel Salgado around the same time.

Coach Carlos Queiroz8217;s team continued to surge forward and Ronaldo, returning after a two-game injury lay off, almost equalised in the 39th when his low shot hit the post.

Madrid8217;s problems increased two minutes later when Zidane received his second yellow card for a foul on Brazilian midfielder Djalminha. Madrid then hit the woodwork for the third time when a fierce shot from outside the area by captain Raul Gonzalez struck the crossbar in the 43rd.

Despite its numerical disadvantage, the defending champions dominated the early stages of the second half but Ronaldo was guilty of a miss when he headed well wide from Salgado8217;s cross in the 50th.