Sport

Real rekindle title hopes with win as Valencia hold Barcelona

SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA: Real Madrid rekindled their hopes of challenging for the Primera Liga title with a 3-2 defeat of Racing…

Mon Dec 20 2004 - 00:00

SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA: Real Madrid rekindled their hopes of challenging for the Primera Liga title with a 3-2 defeat of Racing Santander on Saturday, before leaders Barcelona conceded home points in a 1-1 draw with Valencia.

After a battling first half at the Nou Camp, Valencia were the first to find the net when Stefano Fiore powered in the ball in the 63rd minute. Barcelona were undermined when goalkeeper Victor Valdes was sent off 10 minutes later for handling outside the area.

Barcelona equalised with a penalty from Ronaldinho in the 79th minute after the Brazilian went down in the area between two defenders.

Real were twice forced to play catch-up in their game, Israel international Yossi Benayoun opening the scoring for Santander with a header past Iker Casillas in the 24th minute.

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Michael Owen, making a rare start, seized his chance to pull the two sides equal with a header after 35 minutes. But six minutes after the break Javi Guerrero put the visitors behind again. Raul levelled the score 10 minutes later before Zidane sealed the victory.

However, Real held second place, 10 adrift of Barcelona, for a little more than 24 hours as Espanyol yesterday reclaimed the role of main title challengers with a 0-0 draw against lowly Numancia. Espanyol have 30 points, nine behind the leaders.

Atletico Madrid moved into fifth-place ahead of Sevilla after they beat Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 last night, the goal coming from Antonio Lopez after 27 minutes.

ITALIAN SERIE A: Two goals from Francesco Totti in AS Roma's 5-1 win over Parma yesterday made him the club's all-time top scorer. Roma's other goals came from Vincenzo Montella and two from Antonio Cassano. Cesare Bovo scored for Parma. Meanwhile, third-placed Udinese beat Lazio 3-0 to close the gap on leading pair Juventus and AC Milan.

Juve's goalless draw at home to champions Milan on Saturday leaves them on 39 points with Milan four behind and Udinese now on 31 points.

A first-half free-kick from Sinisa Mihajlovic gave fourth-placed Inter Milan a 1-0 home win over Brescia.

Fifth-placed Palermo beat Cagliari 3-0 last night, the goals all coming before the break, from Lamberto Zauli, Franco Brienza and Luca Toni.

Francesco Flachi hit two for in a 4-1 win for Sampdoria at Lecce, while Fiorentina beat Chievo 2-0 with goals from Christian Rigano and Javier Portillo.