Spanish giants lose top spot

Deportivo Coruna knocked Real Madrid off the top of the Spanish first division on Saturday after they claimed a 2-0 win over Malaga while th...

Deportivo Coruna knocked Real Madrid off the top of the Spanish first division on Saturday after they claimed a 2-0 win over Malaga while the former leaders were held to a goalless draw at lowly Recreativo Huelva.

Deportivo now top the table for the first time this season with 66 points, while Real drop to second a point behind.

Makelele injured

Claude Makelele became the latest addition to Real Madrid’s lengthening injury list after straining a thigh muscle. The French staris doubtful for next week’s Champions Leaguetie against Juventus. Stars like Zidane, Figo and Ronaldo are already doubful for the decisive second leg at Turin.

Third-placed Real Sociedad also have a chance of overhauling Real in the standings if they win their match at Real Mallorca on Sunday.

Deportivo’s 40-year-old defender Donato, the oldest player in the league, grabbed the opener with a fine glancing header in the 13th minute after a near post corner from Victor.

Javier Irureta’s side suffered a few late scares as Malaga threw men forward in search of an equaliser, but midfielder Lionel Scaloni confirmed victory when he scored on a counter-attack in injury time.

Real Madrid have frittered away a four-point cushion at the top of the table in the space of just two games. With the injured Ronaldo, Raul, Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane remaining in Madrid, Real lacked fluency at the Nuevo Colombino.

Recreativo centre forward Raul Molina proved an instant menace to the Real defence, shooting wide after just 25 seconds and getting close to touching in an Emilio Viqueira free kick five minutes later. He also managed to get the ball in the net but his goal was ruled out for offside.

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Real then had a brief spell in control as Roberto Carlos made several runs on the left and striker Fernando Morientes threatened on the edge of the area.

Real striker Tote then had a spectacular goal-bound shot blocked by defender Mariano Pernia on 15 minutes and Morientes skied over soon after, but Recre fought back and came within a whisker of snatching the lead just before halftime. (Reuters)