First Division - Day 35

Recreativo Huelva 2 - Real Madrid 3

Recreativo: Laquait; Merino, Pablo Amo, Beto, Poli; Jesús Vázquez, Barber; Cazorla, Rosu (Uche 46'), Juanma (Aitor 58'); Sinama-Pongolle (Javi Guerrero 55'). 4-2-3-1.
Madrid: Casillas; Miguel Torres, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos; Diarra, Gago; Beckham, Raúl (Higuaín 89'), Robinho (Guti 78'); Van Nistelrooy. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Recreativo: Beto, Juanma for Mario, Aitor / Madrid: Miguel Torres, Gago, Beckham, Robinho for Cicinho, Emerson, Higuaín, Guti.

Goals:
0-1. 08. Robinho. Steered header wide of Laquait from Beckham's cross.
0-2. 53. Van Nistelrooy (penalty). After Laquait brought down Robinho in area.
1-2. 73. Jesús Vázquez (penalty). After Uche tripped by Gago on edge of area.
2-2. 85. Uche. Swept ball in from close up after Aitor's corner bounced across.
2-3. 90. Roberto Carlos. Collected Gago pass and shot past advancing keeper.

A last minute strike from Roberto Carlos kept Real Madrid at the top of the table, ahead of Barcelona on the head-to-head record between the two sides. Capello's side seemed well on the way to victory when Robinho headed in Beckham's cross early on, and they dominated a first half in which Beckham was a constant threat with his crosses from the right wing, Raúl in particular unlucky not to convert a couple of chances.

Sinama-Pongolle had a penalty appeal turned down by Mejuto González early in the second half in a rare attack, but the referee did award a spot kick to Madrid after Laquait brought down Robinho a few minutes later, Van Nistelrooy firing the kick past the keeper.

However Jesús Vázquez got one back with a second penalty after Uche was tripped by a couple of defenders, and with five minutes to go Uche levelled the scores from Aitor's corner. It seemed that Madrid had thrown away their lead, but with the game in the last minute of normal time Roberto Carlos struck home the winner to make it five wins in a row for his team.