03/06/2003
Madrid setback in Spanish title race

Real Madrid could only draw 1-1 at home to Celta Vigo leaving Real Sociedad in the driving seat in the Spanish league title race this weekend.

Madrid conceded a point to Celta although the visitors to the Santiago-Bernabeu stadium were happy to sit back in defence and were even ahead at the break with their only chance of the first half.

Russian Aleksandr Mostovoi headed home 10 minutes before half-time to put Vicente Del Bosque's men up against it.

Raul, the darling of Real Madrid, also headed home midway through the second half to earn a point and put them level with leaders Sociedad on 72 points but they remain in second place because they come out worse in matches between the two sides.

Should Sociedad win at home to Valencia on Sunday, they would go three points clear with just two matches left to play.

In the opening spell, Real had two goals disallowed for offside, Raul deflected a Roberto Carlos shot on to a post and Celta's Argentinian keeper Pablo Cavallero made saves from Fernando Hierro and Luis Figo.

When Mostovoi scored the first goal, it shocked the home supporters who whistled their players with Figo particularly a target of their displeasure.

In the second half, Celta made the most of the lack of inspiration from Figo, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo, and kept solid at the back.

Real finally found the net in a move started by former Celta player Claude Makelele and Michel Salgado, also formerly of Celta, passed the ball on to the head of Raul who beat Cavallero to at least give Real something from their poor night.
 

afp