03/04/2004
Real Madrid get winning kick out of Roberto Carlos

Two goals derived from Roberto Carlos's trademark thunderbolt left foot free-kicks proved to be the difference as Real Madrid consolidated their position at the top of the Spanish first division with a hard fought 2-1 win at Albacete.

"It was a tough game for both teams. When they had the ball we closed them down well and vice-versa. We didn't have a great game but we overcame the suffering to win," said Real coach Carlos Queiroz.

The Brazilian World Cup winner opened the scoring after 19 minutes with a shot from the edge of the area, although the ball took a deflection from Albacete defender Oscar Montiel which left his keeper Manuel Almunia with little hope of stopping the ball reaching the net.

Luis Figo was credited with the reigning Spanish champions' second goal after 71 minutes, although in fairness the Portugal captain knew next-to-nothing about his seventh league goal of the season as Roberto Carlos's long distance hot struck him on the hip before flying past Almunia.

Libero Parri gave Real an anxious final few minutes when he scored from an individual effort eight minutes from time.

Parri's right foot blast from 25 metres bouncing awkwardly in front of Iker Casillas before the Spanish international pushed the ball into his own net, but Real clung on to their three points during a frantic final few minutes.

However, it was the only error Casillas made all night and he produced a spectacular reaction save midway through the second half to stop Mikel Aguirre from scoring with a close-range header.

"I think we gave a good account of ourselves. We lost to two goals from free kicks which took deflections that our keeper couldn't do anything about," said Albacete coach Cesar Ferrero.

"But I'm happy with the team, we were very disciplined tonight and showed that we can more-or-less hold our own with anybody."

Ferrero was clearly referring to the fact that his newly-promoted side were many pundit's pre-season favourites to make an immediate return to the second division but now look likely to survive.

With a budget of just 13 million euros, Albacete are the Spanish first division's most impoverished club.

The win gives Real Madrid 67 points from their 31 games, four points clear of their nearest rival Valencia, who have a game in hand.

Valencia play host to bottom club Murcia on Sunday, who have yet to win away from home this season.

One negative note for Real was that their Argentine utility man Santiago Solari picked up his fifth yellow card of the season and will have to sit out Real's match against Osasuna next week.

Barcelona's nine game winning streak, the second longest in the Catalan club's history, came to an end when they could only draw 0-0 with Villarreal.

Javier Saviola hit the post after 21 minutes but that was the closest Barca came to getting a goal, with Ronaldinho below form and mis-firing badly for the entire 90 minutes

Former Barcelona player Roger Garcia hit the post for Villarreal just before the break.

Roger was among four ex-Barca players among the Villarreal team along with goalkeeper Jose Manuel Reina and striker Sonny Anderon and Juan Roman Riquelme.

Perhaps because they were trying to prove a point on their return to the Nou Camp, the quartet were Villarreal's best performers on the night.

Barca have 56 points but remain in fourth on goal difference from Deportivo La Coruna, who are at home to Real Betis on Sunday.

Earlier on Saturday, Sevilla bounced back from their 5-1 thrashing at Real Madrid last weekend and got a hard fought 1-0 win over Espanyol.

The only goal of the game came after 51 minutes when Antonito Ramiro slid in to push home a Dario Silva cross.