Real end miserable year with 2-1 home defeat

Real Madrid ended their year in miserable fashion as they were jeered off the pitch after a 2-1 defeat by Racing Santander at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Real's fourth home loss of the season came two days after the club confirmed caretaker coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro as the man in charge until the end of the season.

Real dropped to fifth in the Primera Liga 11 points adrift of leaders Barcelona who notched up their 13th consecutive win in all competitions with a 2-0 victory over Celta Vigo at the Nou Camp on Tuesday.

"We have to try and stay calm," Real vice-president Emilio Butragueno told reporters after the match. "We didn't expect this and we will have to see if little by little we can recover, but it won't be easy."

Champions Barca have 40 points from 17 games, five ahead of second-placed Osasuna who will defend a 100 percent home record against Atletico Madrid in the final game of the year on Thursday.

Valencia moved up three places into third on 32 points after a high-class 3-0 win over struggling Real Mallorca.

Midfielder David Albelda set the home side on the way with a rasping shot just after the break, leading striker David Villa made it 2-0 with a spectacular bicycle kick and defender Fabio Aurelio wrapped up the win with an unstoppable volley.

Valencia's regional rivals Villarreal are fourth, a further two points back, after a 0-0 draw at Malaga while Real Madrid are a point behind Manuel Pellegrini's side in fifth.

In Wednesday's other matches Real Betis hauled themselves off the bottom of the table with an emphatic 3-0 win at home to Alaves -- their first victory in 10 outings.

The Basque side have replaced them at the foot of the standings with 12 points from 17 games.

ZARAGOZA FIGHTBACK

Real Zaragoza staged the fightback of the day when they came from two goals down at halftime to claim a 3-2 win at home to Athletic Bilbao. It is the first time they have beaten the Basques at La Romareda in seven years.

Racing, who were without six first-choice players and had won just three of their previous 16 games this season, silenced the Bernabeu crowd when defender Ayoze Diaz scored with a curling free kick midway through the first half.

Real were still reeling when midfielder Felipe Melo doubled Racing's lead six minutes later, slicing through the home defence and stabbing the ball past keeper Iker Casillas.

Real coach Lopez Caro rang the changes at halftime, sending on reserve team players Javier Balboa and Roberto Soldado for defender Ivan Helguera and Brazilian forward Robinho.

They were thrown a lifeline midway through the second half when Ronaldo cashed in on a defensive error by Racing's centre backs to nod home unopposed at the far post after they had accidentally headed on a Roberto Carlos throw-in.