2-0: The White's Back on Top!



Sixteen seconds into the game and Ronaldo paved the way to the win as well as to the top position. Twenty minutes later Raul made the win clearer with the second target. Real Madrid dominated the encounter from start to end without much trouble. David Beckham was again the best white player of the game. It was another great night of football for Real, as they have ended up at the top position of the table. The Whites will be visiting Barcelona on Saturday, standing ten points ahead of the Catalan side, which surprisingly lost tonight in Zaragoza (5-1).

The visiting defenders were put through trouble every time the ball fell at Ronaldo's feet. The Brazilian, who had already scored his 11th Liga match, was the main receptor of passes. It was clear for Madrid that they had to control the midfield play if they do not want any nasty surprise. They managed to do so in the last bit of the first half and in part of the second one. The danger to Casillas' goal always came whenever the failed to control the midfield. Ronaldo and Raul kicked two shots into the woodwork, so the visitors still had some chance to rally after one hour of play.

Despite the favourable result, Madrid kept trying at another score. Torres was close on two occasions. It seemed that Atlético had the intiative in its hands, but the win and leadership did not seemed to be in any danger for Real. Guti came on for Raul in the late minutes of play. The derby and the triumph remained at Bernabeu. Real is visiting Camp Nou as leader ten points above Barcelona.

THE MATCH:
2 - REAL MADRID: Casillas; Salgado, Roberto Carlos (Solari 90´), Helguera, Raul Bravo; Beckham, Helguera, Zidane, Figo; Raul (Guti 82´) and Ronaldo (Portillo 87´).
0 - AT. MADRID: Burgos; Gaspar, Simeone, Lequi, Sergi; Nosigevo, De los Santos, Ibagaza, Musampa (Rodrigo 60´); Nikolaidis (Paunovic 60´) and Fernando Torres.
GOALS:
1-0, min. 1: Ronaldo dribbles past Simeone and lifts up the ball over Brugos in a top-class shot.
2-0, min. 20: Beckham's thirty-metre pass to Raul, who heads into the net facing the halfway advance by the visiting keeper.
REFEREE: Pino Zamorano, Castilla-Leon Referees Association. He cautioned Simeone, Salgado, Musampa, De los Santos, Sergi, Figo, Lequi.
OTHER FACTS: Liga Matchday 14. Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, full. Field of play in perfect conditions. Ivan Luis Zamorano took the kick-off of honour.