Real Madrid Take Clįsico Honours Over Barcelona
Associated Press
10/22/2006 5
19 PM
MADRID, Spain (AP) - Raul Gonzalez and Ruud van Nistelrooy scored a goal each Sunday to give Real Madrid a 2-0 win over FC Barcelona, ending the defending champions' unbeaten start to the Spanish league season.
Madrid, with 14 points, now trails leader Barcelona and Valencia by two points after the win at a wet Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Barcelona, which went into the game after a 1-0 loss at Chelsea in the Champions League, fell behind after only three minutes. Raul jumped and headed in Sergio Ramos' cross from the right.
The Madrid captain then sent a left-footed shot against the bar in the 15th and Robinho's shot stretched goalkeeper Victor Valdes four minutes later.
The European champions then took control until the interval and would have equalized with better marksmanship from Eidur Gudjohnsen and Lionel Messi midway through the half. The team's leading scorer, Samuel Eto'o, is sidelined until February with an injury.
Barcelona began pressing at the start of the second half but was killed off by a second goal in the 51st following a swift counterattack involving Van Nistelrooy, Robinho and Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez. The Dutch striker reached the Brazilian's pass ahead of Valdes and sidefooted a volley home for his fourth goal of the season.
Van Nistelrooy came close to doubling his goal three minutes later, hitting the bar with a chip which was similar to the one which produced a goal in Madrid's 4-1 win over Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League on Tuesday.
David Beckham, on the bench for the sixth time in the past seven games, replaced Guti in the 83rd minute for his 100th league appearance for the Spanish club.
Madrid's victory was achieved without suspended striker Ronaldo and injured right back Michel Salgado.
Real Madrid Take Clįsico Honours Over Barcelona
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