Real maintain lead with derby victory
Sunday, January 20, 2008

Real Madrid maintained their seven-point lead over Barcelona at the top of the Primera Liga with a 2-0 win over city rivals Atletico Madrid at the Calderon.

Real scored his 11th goal against them in city derbies, steering in at the near post with just over 30 seconds on the clock.

Real keeper Iker Casillas produced a succession of brilliant saves before leading striker Ruud van Nistelrooy finished Atletico off with his 12th of the season on the stroke of halftime.

Barca needed an opportunist header from Thierry Henry to clinch a flattering 1-0 win over an ambitious Racing Santander at the Nou Camp.

The weekend also witnessed the fastest goal in Primera Liga history, Valladolid striker Joseba Llorente scoring after just seven seconds of his side's 2-1 win over Espanyol and then completing a memorable display with another before the break.

Villarreal are in third spot, five behind Barca, after their 3-0 win over Valencia on Saturday, while Atletico are a further point back in fourth.