Unimpressive Madrid keep up the chase

As the 30th round of La Liga came to a close,defending champions Real Madrid were able to claw back to within six points of leaders Barcelona.

As the 30th round of La Liga came to a close,defending champions Real Madrid were able to claw back to within six points of leaders Barcelona after their 2-0 home win over Valladolid. Captain Raul and Arjen Robben scored in either halves to lead the Meringues to victory. Real Madrid coach Juande Ramos confessed Barcelona were playing better than his side,but said he didn8217;t care after the champions stayed in the title race.

8220;It is easier to win playing well than playing badly,8221; said Ramos. 8220;However,sometimes you can8217;t play well and that was the case today. The priority was getting the points. If we compare ourselves with Barcelona they are playing better. But there is only one Barcelona. 8220;I would prefer to be in their shoes because we could drop a point or two. In our position there is no room for error.8221;

Real have won 14 out of their 16 league matches under Ramos and are unbeaten in 2009. Barcelona had defeated Recreativo Huelva 2-0 on Saturday to open up a nine-point gap,but Real continued their dogged pursuit of a third successive league crown. Valladolid had beaten Real 1-0 earlier in the season,when Bernd Schuster was at the helm,but under Ramos Real are much-improved. England international David Beckham,now on loan at AC Milan,was one of the spectators at the Santiago Bernabeu cheering his old club on from the stands.Beckham,33,won the 2007 league title with Real before leaving to join Los Angeles Galaxy.

Sergio Ramos was suspended so Miguel Torres deputised at right back but apart from that Real were at full strength and fresh after no midweek Champions League distraction. However,Real were flat in the opening 25 minutes and only a great piece of skill from Gonzalo Higuain 8211; a drag back and turn 8211; earned applause from the home fans. Along with French midfielder Lass Diarra,Higuain was Real8217;s standout performer and made the opening goal close to half-time chipping the ball between two defenders and crossing for Raul to tap in. Robben showed great control to score the second nine minutes from time although Valladolid were furious as they felt they should have been awarded a penalty seconds before following a foul by Pepe. 8220;It was a penalty,8221; said Valladolid coach Jose Luis Mendilibar. 8220;The people who saw it on the television told us it was a penalty and I have no doubt it was.8221;

Elsewhere,third-placed Sevilla fell to a surprise 1-0 home defeat against Getafe on Sunday. Jaime Gavilan8217;s 82nd-minute strike won the game for Getafe,who move four points clear of the drop zone. Despite the loss Sevilla are still in pole position for the Champions League holding an eight-point advantage over Valencia who they play next week at the Mestalla stadium. Valencia climbed above Villarreal into fourth with a 3-2 win at Sporting Gijon on Sunday. Villarreal lost 2-0 against Malaga on Saturday and now trail Valencia by a point in the Champions League race. David Villa put Valencia 2-1 up from the penalty spot but didn8217;t celebrate the goal out of respect for former club Gijon where he started his distinguished career back in 2000 and his parents were watching from the stands. 8220;I wasn8217;t as nervous as I expected,8221; said Villa. 8220;I am sure they Villa8217;s parents were more nervous because it was the first time that they have seen me at El Molinon not wearing a Sporting shirt.8221; Sporting equalised but Juan Mata,recently capped by Spain,struck the winner three minutes from time. Atletico Madrid boosted their Champions League aspirations triumphing 2-1 at rivals Deportivo La Coruna courtesy of goals from Sergio 8220;Kun8221; Aguero and Simao. Atletico are three points behind Valencia as are promoted Malaga. 8220;If we don8217;t get in the Champions League we will all be really sad as we have so much quality in this team,8221; said Aguero.