Real stay top after win but Barca keep pace

Leaders Real Madrid edged closer to the Primera Liga title beating Deportivo Coruna 3-1 in the Bernabeu on Saturday.

Barcelona remained hot on their heels, overcoming King's Cup finalists Getafe 1-0 at home thanks to a second minute goal from Ronaldinho, who was later sent off.

Real and Barca stay tied at the top on 72 points, though Fabio Capello's side hold first place due to their superior head-to-head record.

Real, on course for their first major title in four years, have a tough visit to face fifth-placed Real Zaragoza next, and finish with a home game against Real Mallorca.

Barca are at home to city rivals Espanyol and away to bottom club Gimnastic Tarragona in their remaining games.

Third-placed Sevilla (67) host Zaragoza on Sunday, while Valencia's title challenge was derailed when they were beaten 3-2 at home by local rivals Villarreal. They stayed fourth on 65 points.

Villarreal's sixth straight victory put them sixth with 56 points, in the UEFA Cup places.

CONTROVERSIAL OPENER

Real were always in control against Deportivo but took the lead in controversial circumstances in the 29th minute.

The Los Angeles Galaxy-bound David Beckham, who has just earned a recall to the England squad, was at the centre of much of Real's forward play and crossed from the left.

His former Manchester United team mate Ruud Van Nistelrooy nodded the ball down near the line with the help of his arm, and as the Depor players appealed for handball, defender Sergio Ramos pounced to score.

After the break, Beckham thumped a free kick against the post but Depor levelled in the 55th with a rare attack when Julian de Guzman crossed low and defender Joan Capdevila steered in at the near post.

Real restored their lead two minutes later when Beckham was given time on the right to whip in a trademark cross which Raul headed in.

In the 75th, Dutch striker Van Nistelrooy took his tally for the season to 23 and settled home nerves when a loose ball broke to him in the area, as Raul tussled with a defender.

It was Beckham's penultimate game in the Bernabeu and he was the last player to leave the pitch at the end after throwing his shirt into the stands as the sell-out crowd chanted his name.

RONALDINHO RED

Barca caught Getafe cold in the Nou Camp as Samuel Eto'o powered his way through the centre of their defence to layoff for Ronaldinho to score after just two minutes.

But they suffered a setback when tempers boiled over in the 39th after Getafe defender David Belenguer hacked Ronaldinho down from behind.

The Brazilian forward lashed out a foot in retaliation, catching Belenguer, and was shown a straight red card amidst heated protests from the home fans and players.

Despite having a man less, Barca continued to dominate after the break and Getafe had to scramble the ball away as wave after wave of attacks fell on their area.

Inevitably Getafe came back into the game as Barca tired and Victor Valdes finished the busier goalkeeper in a breathless, nervy finale.