Valencia return to top, Real draw with Espanyol
Reuters - Sunday 05 October 2008, 21:30
MADRID - Real Madrid drew against vistors Espanyol 2-2 after a hard fight in the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, breaking a six-match winning streak and knocking them down the Primera Liga table to fifth place.
Valencia regained their position at the head of the Primera Liga after a second-half goal from Manuel Fernandes gave them a 1-0 victory against Valladolid and placed them alongside Villarreal on 16 points from six games but with a superior goal difference.
At the Bernabeu, Espanyol's Raul Tamudo put away a penalty to give the visitors an early lead but it was quickly matched by a low header from Madrid's Raul.
Tense end-to-end play put Espanyol in the lead briefly after a chip in by striker Luis Garcia before Raul slipped through the vistors defence and brought Madrid equal once again minutes before the break.
The second half belonged to Espanyol's keeper Camaroonian Carlos Kameni who knocked away repeated attempts by the home team to retake the lead.
Earlier on Sunday, Sevilla moved to within two points of the pace with a 4-0 demolition of Athletic Bilbao.
Mali striker Frederic Kanoute broke the deadlock after a scrappy opening from Sevilla, slipping home the opener on 26 minutes after an error from Bilbao defender Mikel Balenziag.
Renato doubled the lead five minutes before the break before second-half goals from Adriano Correia and Ernesto Chevanton completed the rout which put Sevilla on 14 points.
Sporting Gijon broke a five-game losing streak with a 2-0 win at Real Mallorca which lifted them from the bottom of the table at the expense of Real Betis, who lost 2-1 at Villarreal on Saturday.
Almeria scored twice in the final minutes to carve out a 2-2 draw at Getafe, Alvara Negredo scoring with three minutes to go and Chico adding a second a minute into injury time to earn a point that put them in sixth spot.
Real Madrid have the chance to go third when they play Espanyol in the late game at the Bernabeu.
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