Real Madrid scored in each half to beat arch-rivals Barcelona 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Spanish League on Sunday and rejoin the title race. Captain Raul Gonzales sent the huge home crowd into ecstasy as early as the third minute with a neat header before an easy finish from Ruud van Nistelrooy sealed the win six minutes after the restart. Both scorers came close from doubling their tally but the woodwork came to rescue the Spanish and European champions from a humiliating defeat. Fabio Capello's side are now in fourth spot with 14 points, just two adrift of leaders Barcelona who are ahead of Valencia with scored goals. Real played pragmatically as they made benefit from the created chances, leaving 61% of possession to the visitors who left the capital with their first defeat of the season. The packed stadium didn't wait much time as Sergio Ramos raced down the right on the break before crossing to Raul who ghosted behind Barca's back four and headed into the far post.
Van Nistelrooy The Spanish international striker almost extended the lead after 12 minutes when Robinho outpaced Gianluca Zambrotta on the left flank before feeding Raul whose shot took a deflection off Lilian Thuram and then denied by the post. Barcelona almost equalized in the 25th minute when Lionel Messi released Eidur Gudjohnsen inside the area but the Icelandic shot wide with the goal at his mercy. Van Nistelrooy doubled the lead in the 51st minute also from the counter attack. The Dutch talisman capitalized on Victor Valdez's mistimed advance and converted Robinho's cross home. Four minutes later, Van Nistelrooy failed to register a brace in his first appearance in Spain's biggest fixture, lobbing Robinho's pass over Valdez but seeing his effort denied by the crossbar. Valdez denied Van Nistelrooy again in the 69th minute when he blocked the ball despite a difficult one-on-one situation.
