Real Madrid opens eight-point cushion

By PA SportsTicker

Real Madrid crushed Real Valladolid, 7-0, with a stunning first-half blitz on Sunday to open up an eight-point lead at the top of the Primera Liga standings.

The champions scored five unanswered goals in a clinical opening 45 minutes before adding two more after the break to move further clear of Barcelona, who could only draw 1-1 at Sevilla on Saturday.

Julio Baptista set the ball rolling with Real’s opener in the eighth minute, before further strikes from Raul (two), Arjen Robben and Guti ensured the game was over as a contest before the half-time break.

Guti and Royston Drenthe then added further goals in the second half to complete the romp.

David Villa grabbed a brace as Valencia beat Real Betis 3-1 at home. Villa netted either side of David Silva’s strike, with Edu’s effort just after half-time no more than a consolation for the visitors.

Osasuna made a vital leap away from the relegation zone courtesy of a 1-0 win over Real Zaragoza.

Jaroslav Plasil scored on the stroke of half-time to earn his side three vital points, which propels them up to 14th in the table.

A first-half brace from Florent Sinama-Pongolle was enough to give Recreativo Huelva a valuable debut win under new coach Manuel Zambrano at Espanyol and move the Andalusian side out of the bottom three.

The French frontman struck twice early on and Recre held on for a morale-boosting victory despite Ewerthon’s debut goal for the home side, who slip to fifth place.

Levante ended another week of off-field turmoil with more disappointment on it as they went down 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao - a trademark header from Fernando Llorente 10 minutes into the second half proving the difference.

The Valencia-based club remain cut adrift at the bottom of the table with their first-team squad threatening to go on strike if the problem of unpaid wages is not resolved.

Atletico Madrid beat Racing Santander 2-0 thanks to a Diego Forlan double while Real Mallorca could not find a way past renowned giantkillers Almeria as they played out a goalless draw at the Ono Estadi.

In other Saturday games in La Liga, Guillermo Franco’s last-minute goal earned Villarreal a 1-0 win over Real Murcia and Deportivo La Coruna drew 1-1 with Getafe.