MADRID, Feb 15 (SW) - Just as Valencia thought to leave Madrid as the new leaders of the Spanish Liga, the referee, on indication of his linesman, put the ball on the penalty spot. Luis Figo appreciated the unexpected present and put Real back on top of the table.

This occurred in the 93rd minute under massive protest by the Valencia side claiming that the struggle for the ball between Raul and Marchena took place outside the penalty area. The replays showed that the penalty never existed. Without any doubt this decision will be the main dish of many sports programmes on Spanish and international television this week.

Valencia, without playing a brilliant match, appeared as a solid and well organized team and dominated the first ten minutes before Real Madrid started to give a few timid answers to end up dominating the game towards the half-time whistle.

In the second half it became obvious that Real without Zidane is a different team and in spite of the good intentions shown by Raul and above all Figo the Valencia defense never got seriously threatened, not even by Ronaldo. In the 75th minute Valencia received the well deserved reward for their better play when Ayala, Valencia's best player tonight, beat goalie Casilla with a superb header after a measured corner kick by Angulo.

From that moment on Valencia completely controlled the match and the Bernabeu stadium started to see flashbacks from the last home defeat against Mallorca on the 3rd of may 2003. Until the linesman invented the more than controversial penalty, destroyed the dream and put Valencia back into second place on the table.

In the second top match of the evening Barcelona defeated Atlético de Madrid by 3-1. All four goals were scored before the half-time whistle. In the 9th minute Saviola picked up a long pass from Reiziger and after a perfect control beat Atlético goalie Aragoneses. The equalizer sored by Nikolaidis arrived in the 22nd minute but Atlético's hopes only lasted for two minutes when Ronaldinho, after a combination with midfielder Cocu, eased the ball in over the Atlético goalkeeper. Two minutes before half-time ex-Atlético player Luis Garcia headed number three home for Barça.

In the second half a during the whole match very active Saviola got several times close to a wider margen while Atlético, by carrying out three substitutions, intended to close the gap to no avail. The team travelled back to Madrid with a defeat and eight yellow cards in their luggage. Barcelona midfieler Davids saw two yellow cards and was sent off in the 67th minute.

Deportivo closed in after today's results and stays firm in third place with 49 points while Real reached 53 points, leaving Valencia in between with 51 points after 24 matches. Barcelona with 40 points completes the champions league quartet at a certain distance.

Cor Stephan van Eyden