Madrid breeze past Levante

By Andy Hall

Real Madrid CF secured a rousing 5-0 win against Levante UD with Luís Figo and David Beckham delighting the Santiago Bernabéu with spectacular strikes as the side regained second spot in the Primera División.

Quick-fire goals
It was a disappointing evening for visiting coach Bernd Schuster, whose high-flying side were outclassed as they succumbed to their heaviest defeat in more than 40 years. After Ronaldo had broken the deadlock just before half-time, the home side scored four in 12 minutes either side of the break to leave Levante reeling. Figo doubled the lead shortly after the interval with a glorious drive from outside the area and within a minute, Ronaldo was again on target.

Beckham strike
Beckham's 54th-minute goal mirrored Figo's earlier effort, as the England captain, who had created Ronaldo's opener with a superb pass, controlled the ball 30 metres out and jinked past defender Ian Harte before unleashing a powerful drive that nestled in the top corner. Substitute Michael Owen completed an excellent night for Madrid, tucking in the fifth goal after a superb run by Guti, to close the gap behind leaders FC Barcelona to seven points.

Valencia victory
Héctor Cúper endured an unhappy return to former club Valencia CF as RCD Mallorca lost 2-0, goals from Bernardo Corradi and Rubén Baraja lifting Claudio Ranieri's side to fourth. Real Betis Balompié are fifth after Ricardo Oliveira scored twice in a 2-1 victory against Villarreal CF, who responded in the second half through Antonio Guayre.

Sevilla sunk
Betis' city rivals Sevilla FC crashed to a 4-1 defeat at CA Osasuna. Iñaki Muñoz broke the deadlock on 21 minutes before Carlitos Domínguez levelled for the visitors 15 minutes later. Pierre Webó put Osasuna back ahead ten minutes into the second half before Sevilla were reduced to ten men when Javi Navarro was shown a second yellow card on 68 minutes. Richard Morales and Mohammed El Yaagoubi then wrapped up the game late on.

Depor draw
RC Deportivo La Coruña surrendered a two-goal lead as Real Sociedad de Fútbol fought back to earn a 2-2 draw when Nihat Kahveci and Darko Kovacevic peculiarly scored almost identical goals to Deportivo's earlier efforts. Albert Luque had opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick before Pedro Munitis's header. Elsewhere, struggling Málaga CF's plight was not helped by a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Alabcete Balompié.