La Liga Report

Real Zaragoza 2-2 Real Madrid

ZARAGOZA, June 9 (Primera Liga) - Ruud van Nistelrooy struck an 88th-minute equaliser as Real Madrid salvaged a point from their trip to Real Zaragoza to remain in the pole position to win the Primera Liga title.

Madrid's hopes of being crowned champions for the first time since 2003 looked to be fading as they trailed 2-1 heading into the final few minutes at a rain-drenched La Romareda, while at the Nou Camp title rivals Barcelona, who were level on 72 points with Madrid at the start of play, led 2-1 against Espanyol.

But Van Nistelrooy's equaliser - his second of the match after Diego Milito had twice put Zaragoza in front - combined with a late Espanyol leveller means Madrid still hold the upper hand heading into the final round of fixtures.

Zaragoza looked the more dangerous early on, with Ewerthon sending a well-struck effort just wide after five minutes and Andres D'Alessandro soon after firing in a shot from outside the box which Iker Casillas parried away at his near post.

The visitors responded in the 11th minute with a decent long-range effort of their own, Robinho bringing a sprawling save out of former Madrid keeper Cesar Sanchez with a dipping 30-yard effort.

Three minutes later Madrid had probably the first decent chance to take the lead when Robinho sent a left-footed volley into the side-netting after latching onto a cross from David Beckham - the Englishman shaking off an ankle injury picked up on international duty in midweek to make the starting line-up.

At the other end, Ewerthon wasted two opportunities to test Casillas before Zaragoza centre-back Gabriel Milito showed his striker how it should be done with a free-kick that at least forced the Madrid custodian into a save.

Milito's brother Diego went one better in the 31st minute though as he put Zaragoza ahead from the penalty spot.

News had just filtered around La Romareda that Madrid's title rivals Barcelona had gone a goal down at home to Espanyol, but Fabio Capello's side soon found themselves facing the same deficit when Milito sent Casillas the wrong way from the penalty spot.

The kick had been given after Pablo Aimar went down under a challenge from Ivan Helguera, who had only been drafted into the Madrid line-up after Miguel Torres had suffered an injury in the warm-up.

Robinho and Van Nistelrooy failed to make the most of openings as Madrid tried to force an equaliser before the break, although Van Nistelrooy very nearly drew the teams level in first-half injury-time.

Sergio Ramos sent over a cross to the far post which Van Nistelrooy looked certain to turn home, but Cesar reacted superbly to parry the Dutchman's header away for a corner.

Madrid started the second half with a speculative 35-yard free-kick effort from Roberto Carlos which flew harmlessly wide, but Capello's men were back on level terms in the 57th minute thanks to Van Nistelrooy.

Again news of a goal from the Nou Camp preceded the one at La Romareda, with Van Nistelrooy heading home Sergio Ramos' cross at the far post just moments after Leo Messi had put Barca 2-1 up in their clash.

That was Van Nistelrooy's 24th league goal of the season and was the seventh match in succession that he has found the back of the net.

More importantly, it gave Madrid renewed hope in their hunt for their title.

However, that joy was short-lived as Zaragoza reclaimed the lead just seven minutes later when Diego Milito netted his second of the match.

Aimar made a darting run forward before feeding Milito on the right-hand side of the area.

The prolific Argentinian striker then raced into the area, coolly stepped inside the sliding challenge of Roberto Carlos, before firing home left-footed past Casillas.

With the title slipping from their grasp, Madrid coach Fabio Capello used his final substitution in the 66th minute, sending on Jose Antonio Reyes for Robinho.

It was pretty much all Madrid in the final 25 minutes as the visitors threw everything at Zaragoza.

Gonzalo Higuain had two decent openings, while Sergio Ramos and Mahamadou Diarra also went close with headers.

Madrid could not find a way past the impressive Cesar though, and the visitors suffered a further blow in the final 10 minutes when Beckham looked to damage the same left ankle he had problems with leading into the game.

The former England captain played on after receiving treatment though, and it was from a Beckham free-kick which Ramos very nearly headed Madrid level in the 87th minute.

Just when it looked as though Madrid would end up with nothing, Van Nistelrooy slotted home his second of the night after Cesar had parried a shot from Higuain.

That proved enough to earn Madrid a point - although Diarra could have snatched a late winner if he had kept his header down - but there was even better news from the Nou Camp where Espanyol had netted a late equaliser against Barca, leaving the title within touching distance for Madrid.


Barcelona 2-2 Espanyol

BARCELONA, June 9 (Primera Liga) - Espanyol captain Raul Tamudo denied Barcelona an important victory in the Catalan derby to ensure the Primera Liga title race will go down to the wire.

Tamudo also became the club's all-time top league goalscorer, scoring twice at the Nou Camp after Lionel Messi had looked certain to fire the hosts to a third consecutive title success with a brace of his own.

Barca went behind on the half-hour mark following Tamudo's opener, but responded just before half-time thanks to a controversial Messi effort.

The Argentinian struck again after the break, but Barcelona were denied in the dying minutes as Tamudo equalised and Real Madrid also came from behind to draw at Real Zaragoza and stay on top of the Primera Liga with just one game remaining.

Espanyol began brightly and after Luis Garcia had threatened in the very first minute, Tamudo saw his fierce shot well saved by Victor Valdes.

At the other end, Italian full-back Gianluca Zambrotta sent a long-range effort well wide and Iceland striker Eidur Gudjohnsen was off target from 12 yards as Barca searched for an early advantage.

But Espanyol were looking more dangerous and Tamudo forced Valdes into a fine low save with an angled drive.

Luis Garcia also forced a corner for the visitors, but Barca soon came back into the game and Messi sent a low shot just past the post on 16 minutes.

Gudjohnsen, in the side for the suspended Ronaldinho, then sent a header just wide for Frank Rijkaard's side three minutes later.

The Spanish champions were enjoying the majority of the possession and won a free-kick just outside the area on 28 minutes.

However, Deco's effort was deflected wide and a minute later, Espanyol took the lead.

Ivan De La Pena released Tamudo with a brilliant threaded through-ball and the veteran forward smashed his shot past Valdes and into the top right-hand corner to equal Espanyol's all-time scoring record of 111 goals set by Rafael Maranon.

Barcelona looked lost at this point, but levelled in controversial fashion just before the break when Messi pushed the ball past Espanyol goalkeeper Carlos Kameni with his hand.

The Argentinian winger produced a repeat of Diego Maradona's sensational dribbled strike against England in the 1986 World Cup against Getafe last month and came up with a carbon copy of the first goal Maradona scored that day - the so-called ``Hand of God'' goal - against Espanyol by diverting Zambrotta's deflected cross past a hapless Kameni.

Despite the protests from the Espanyol players, the goal stood and the Argentinian winger was to do even more damage after the break.

Messi set up Gudjohnsen on 55 minutes, but the former Chelsea striker was unable to get his shot on target.

However, a minute later, the young midfielder struck again for Barcelona with a clinical low finish from 10 yards out after a flowing team move.

The Nou Camp faithful then realised that title rivals Real Madrid had gone down 2-1 at Zaragoza and celebrated the announcement of Diego Milito's goal as if they had won the title.

They should have waited though, because after Samuel Eto'o squandered a great chance for Barcelona to make it 3-1, Tamudo equalised in the dying seconds.

A minute later, things were even worse for Barcelona as news came through of Madrid's equaliser at Zaragoza, which leaves things as they were going into the last match of the season, when Barca will need their bitter rivals to slip up if they are to win the title.

Sevilla remain two points off the pace after drawing 0-0 against Mallorca.