08/03/2006
Ronaldo wraps up a ton but Casillas hands Sociedad a draw

Ronaldo temporarily shrugged off his love-hate relationship with the fans to net his 100th goal for Real Madrid but it wasn't enough as an Iker Casillas howler gifted Real Sociedad a point at the Bernabeu.

When Ronaldo netted with a sweet right-foot volley from a crossfield Zinedine Zidane pass, former European champions Real looked bound for a win that would at least have added a modicum of pressure to runaway leaders and defending champions Barcelona, who visit Racing Santander on Sunday.

Instead, Casillas flapped at a Mikel Alonso lofted cross into the box and Mark Gonzalez swept home the gift.

To compound Real's misery as they stayed nine points adrift of Barca on 59 points from 32 games, they played out the final four minutes with 10 men after Guti was sent off in a bad-tempered finale which had the home crowd booing their disapproval.

The one point was in contrast a blessing for relegation-threatened Sociedad as they drew level with fourth-bottom club Mallorca.

Ronaldo, who last week saved a point at old club Barcelona - who can now win the championship next weekend if they win Sunday and then at fellow Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal - might have put the match beyond doubt long before the break.

He hit the post from close range and then ballooned the rebound over the crossbar off a pass from the left by Robinho.

At the other end Gonzalez had looked lively and drew a smart Casillas save on 11 minutes as Sociedad dug in hard.

The same player then headed wide and on the strike of half-time Casillas again found himself having to stop Gonzalez, this time an effort from distance, as the visitors showed Real that one goal was unlikely to prove enough.

Ronaldo had lost his sparkle by the hour and Real duly threw on Italian Antonio Cassano, who was on the mark in last month's derby success against Atletico Madrid.

Cassano strove to make his mark but was caught up in a sea of increasing mediocrity as the game began to lost its momentum after Casillas' dreadful mistake.

An exciting Robinho run 12 minutes from the end deserved greater reward than for a left-foot shot off target.

Guti then lost his head and referee Fernandez Borbalan, who also dished out six yellow cards, gave him a red for dissent.

Barca will travel to Santander with coach Frank Rijkaard resting Ronaldinho, who suffered a bruised leg against Benfica in midweek as Barca reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Argentine Leo Messi is also not ready to make his return but with the likes of Frenchman Ludovic Giuly in reserve the Catalan club will expect to add another three points and all but wrap up the league campaign.

In other Saturday action, Getafe pushed Malaga nearer the drop with a 2-1 away win on the Costa del Sol wit a last-gasp winner from Veljko Paunovic while Cadiz, also struggling to stay alive, parted 1-1 with Real Betis.

Celta Vigo were hosting Champions League aspirants Valencia in the late match.

09.04.2006 07:57 +0400
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