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Real revival as Robben nets winner

Source: Agencies | January 6, 2009, Tuesday | Print Edition

ARJEN Robben scored a spectacular goal on Sunday to help Real Madrid beat Villarreal 1-0 in the Spanish league and continue the defending champions' revival under new coach Juande Ramos.

Robben cut in from the touchline and evaded three Villarreal players as he darted across the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium before sending a curling shot past Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez from the edge of the penalty area in the 32nd minute.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Lassana Diarra both made debuts for Madrid in the team's first encounter of 2009. Madrid has now won three of its last four games in all competitions since Ramos replaced the fired Bernd Schuster last month.

"Overall, I think the team is achieving good results and this is the best way to improve and gain confidence in what you are doing.

"Little by little, people are assimilating things," Ramos was quoted as saying by news agency Efe.

Villarreal, which remains without a win at Madrid's stadium, dropped to seventh place with 29 points after managing only one victory in its past seven league games.

In late matches, Sevilla dropped to fourth place by drawing 1-1 with last-place Osasuna, while Deportivo La Coruna won 2-1 at Getafe and rose to sixth.

After 17 games, Barcelona leads the league with 44 points, 11 more than Valencia. Madrid and Sevilla follow with 32, while Atletico Madrid and Deportivo have 30.

Also on Sunday, it was: Almeria 1, Real Betis 0; Valladolid 0, Racing Santander 1; Athletic Bilbao 1, Espanyol 1; Recreativo Huelva 3, Numancia 1; and Malaga 1, Sporting Gijon 0.

On Saturday, Barcelona beat Mallorca 3-1, and Valencia defeated Atletico 3-1.

Sevilla initially labored against Osasuna, which has yet to win away this season.

Sevilla right winger Jesus Navas made the breakthrough in the 50th minute when he chested down Renato's pass, allowed the ball to bounce and then drove a volley home.

However, Osasuna substitute Walter Pandiani deprived the home team of three points when he seized on a loose ball to equalize in injury time.

Sergio Gonzalez's 81st-minute penalty brought Deportivo victory over Getafe in a rugged encounter with 11 yellow cards.

Deportivo striker Rodolfo Bodipo fired his team into a seventh-minute lead, with Getafe forward Manu Del Moral volleying an equaliser nine minutes later.

Almeria coach Hugo Sanchez, formerly in charge of Mexico, enjoyed a successful debut as he led the lowly team to its first win in six games over Betis. Miguel Angel "Corona" Garcia scored the game's only goal in the 36th.

Almeria substitute Kalu Uche was ejected for elbowing in the closing stages, while Betis substitute Sergio Garcia followed him in injury time for a hard tackle.

Nikola Zigic made a successful start to his second spell with Santander by scoring his team's winning goal at Valladolid.

The towering Serbia striker, who has joined on loan from Valencia, squeezed the ball home in the 65th and also had another goal disallowed for offside 20 minutes earlier.

Espanyol has not won in eight games after a draw.

Moises Hurtado gave the visitors' hope of victory with a goal in the 38th, only for Biblao's Andoni Iraola to equalize in the 82nd.


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