Real Madrid 3 - Almería 1

Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Metzelder, Heinze (Drenthe 46'); Robinho (Higuain 46'), Diarra, Guti, Sneijder (Gago 74'); Raúl, Saviola. 4-4-2.
Almería: Cobeño; Bruno, Carlos García, Pulido, Mané; Juanito, Soriano; Juanma Ortíz (Natalio 69'), Corona (Felipe Melo 69'), Crusat; Kalu Uche (José Ortíz 78'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Heinze, Saviola for Drenthe, Van Nistelrooy / Almería: Pulido, Kalu Uche for Acasiete, Negredo.

Goals:
1-0. 36. Saviola. From close up after Cobeño pushed Raúl shot onto post.
2-0. 68. Sneijder. Curled free kick over defensive wall inside near post.
2-1. 73. Kalu Uche. Picked up Soriano pass and rounded Cannavaro to score.
3-1. 87. Higuain. Ran on to Gago's headed pass to lob over head of keeper.

Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of the table after beating Almería 3-1, the first time in sixteen years that they have won their opening three games. Saviola replaced Van Nistelrooy up front, and had a goal disallowed for the positional offside of Robinho before beating Cobeño after the keeper pushed Raúl's shot against the post.

Referee Alvarez Izquierdo incorrectly ruled out a goal from Kalu Uche though and then sent off Crusat rather harshly for a foul on Saviola early in the second half. And Sneijder made it two with a well struck free kick soon afterwards, his fourth goal in three games.

Uche got one back after picking up a pass from Soriano to leave Cannavaro for dead and slot a low shot past Casillas, and Natalio had a penalty appeal turned down a few minutes later after Metzelder brought him down in the area. But half time substitute Higuain ran on to Gago's headed pass after a poor clearance by Cobeño to lob the keeper and wrap things up with a couple of minutes to go.