Real edges closer to Spanish title
Monday, April 28, 2008

Real Madrid has crushed Athletic Bilbao 3-0 at the Bernabeu to edge closer to the Spanish title, but Villarreal's 1-0 victory at Real Betis put the celebrations on hold for at least another week.

Real's victory means that with four games left to play it remains 10 points clear of Villarreal at the top of the table on 75 points and will claim its 31st league title if it wins next week's match at Osasuna.

Third-placed Barcelona, which is four points behind Villarreal after its 2-0 loss at Deportivo Coruna, can now only hope to dispute second place with Villarreal.

Argentine striker Javier Saviola paved the way for Real's victory when he took advantage of a rare appearance in the starting line-up to poke home after Bilbao keeper Armando had spilled a shot from Robinho in the 13th minute.

Keeper Iker Casillas halted a Bilbao comeback when he produced a great one-handed stop to save a Joseba Garmendia penalty, given after Real defender Gabriel Heinze had bundled into Fernando Llorente in the area late in the first half.

Real dominated after the break and gained a deserved second when Arjen Robben steered home from close range after a superb pass from Gonzalo Higuain and the Argentine wrapped up the win with a classy curling strike of his own two minutes later.

Villarreal clinched its win over a revived Real Betis side thanks to a breathtaking goal from midfielder Marcos Senna.

The Spain international fired the ball into the top corner from a metre inside the Betis half after spotting keeper Casto off his line in the 16th minute.

Atletico Madrid remains in fourth spot, six points behind Barca, after drawing 1-1 at Getafe, while Racing Santander lost ground in the hunt for the final Champions League place after slumping to a 3-1 defeat at Real Mallorca.

Cash-strapped Levante was relegated from the top flight when it slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Recreativo Huelva.

The Valencia-based side's 23rd defeat of the season left it five points behind Real Murcia at the bottom of the table and 15 points behind Osasuna, which occupies the last place above the drop zone.