Leaders Real Madrid needed two late goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy to beat basement club Levante 2-0 away in the Primera Liga last night.

The Dutchman scored with a penalty and a long-range effort in the last 15 minutes to end a spirited display from the home side, and restore Real's seven-point lead at the midway point of the season.

Barcelona are second with 40 points following their 4-0 hammering of Real Murcia at Camp Nou on Saturday, while Espanyol are on 36 after their impressive 14-match unbeaten run ended in a 1-0 defeat in Almeria.

Levante had one goal and one point to their name from their previous five outings but took the game to Real, causing the visitors problems at every set-piece.

Julio Baptista and Raul had shots blocked on the line in a double chance at a corner in the 22nd minute, but offered little before the break.

Soon after the restart, Baptista failed to put away another scrappy chance as the ball bobbled on to a post and Robinho lashed a shot against the post in the 70th.

A handball in the 75th minute gave Van Nistelrooy the chance to break the deadlock from the penalty spot, and with two minutes to go he fired in a low shot from outside the area to seal the win.

Earlier, Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci scored twice to help Villarreal to a 4-3 comeback win at home against Deportivo Coruna to keep them in touch with the teams going for Champions League qualification.

Struggling Deportivo took a 2-1 lead before Nihat poached an equaliser midway through the second half and then curled a shot in the top corner two minutes later.

Danish forward Jon Dahl Tomasson made it four from the penalty spot while Deportivo finished with 10 men and a late goal from Mexican Andres Guardado.

The goalkeeping performance of the day came from Portugal's Ricardo Pereira, who denied Getafe a hat full of goals as Real Betis stole a 3-2 home win.