Real win Madrid derby
Antonio Cassano and Julio Baptista struck as Real Madrid – minus the dropped Ronaldo – beat city rivals Atletico 2-1 tonight.
In their first match since Florentino Perez resigned as president, Madrid went ahead in the fourth minute through a Cassano header. The Italian was selected above Ronaldo, who made way after a series of disappointing performances.
Arsenal’s Champions League opponents, who on Wednesday will try to overturn their 1-0 first-leg deficit at Highbury, were pegged back when Atletico equalised through former Chelsea misfit Mateja Kezman.
Atletico were chasing a seventh straight Primera Liga victory but conceded a second goal shortly before half-time when David Beckham darted down the right and crossed for Baptista to shin the ball into the net.
Raul made his 400th league appearance as a late substitute for Madrid, who climbed to second place, above Valencia who travel to Malaga tomorrow.
Villarreal, who will face Rangers again on Tuesday in the Champions League last 16, won 3-2 at hme against Alaves and climbed to fifth.
Alaves took the lead early on through former Coventry man John Aloisi, while Quique De Lucas hit the visitors’ second after Juan Roman Riquelme had levelled things up for the hosts after 20 minutes.
Villarreal’s class eventually told, however, and they took charge after the break. Riquelme and substitute Guillermo Franco scoring the goals which leave Alaves anchored in the bottom three and new coach Mario Luna winless after three league games in charge.
A similar result on Tuesday would send Villarreal into the Champions League quarter-finals, having been held 2-2 at Ibrox last month.
Cadiz jumped out of the bottom three for 24 hours at least with a solid victory at home to mid-table Espanyol.
Second-half goals from Abraham Paz and Jonathan Sesma settled the match in favour of the home team.
