Real Madrid continues to go from strength to strength here at the end of the La Liga season, moving passed second-place FC Sevilla in a thrilling 3-2 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. The win put Los Merengues two points ahead of Sevilla, while Barcelona’s 2-0 win helped the Catalans maintain their slender two-point lead over their bitter rival.
Ask anyone who saw both games and they’ll tell you that Real looked far more dangerous against much tougher opposition than Barca at relegation-threatened Real Sociedad. Sevilla went ahead in the 41st minute thanks to an unstoppable volley from Enzo Maresca. Indeed, for Madrid fans the strike recalled Zinedine Zidane’s winner in the 2002 Champions League final).
However, the infusion of Guti after 60 minutes proved the difference, as the Real captain took over center midfield, setting up all three of Real’s goals. Two of his assists were absolutely world-class, producing worthy finishes from both Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robinho. Guti also set up the third with a lofted pass into space for Sergio Ramos, whose shot was parried into the path of van Nistelrooy to ease home his second. In stoppage time, Javier Chevanton conspired to ruin the occasion after hammering home a fantastic free-kick, but Madrid held on in the end to secure a famous victory. However, the game was marred somewhat by the dismissal of Robinho, who received a second booking for foolishly taking off his shirt after scoring, and a tenth yellow card for David Beckham; both players will miss next week’s trip to Barcelona to play Espanyol.