Real Madrid 3 - Racing Santander 1

Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Pepe, Marcelo; Baptista, Diarra (Gago 70'), Sneijder (Saviola 83'); Robinho (Robben 74'), Raúl, Van Nistelrooy. 4-3-3.
Racing: Toño; Sergio Sánchez (Moratón 62'), Garay, Oriol, Luis Fernández; Jorge López, Duscher, Colsa (Jordi 78'), Oscar Serrano; Smolarek (Tchite 71'), Munitis. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Madrid: Baptista, Sneijder for Guti, Gago / Racing: Sergio Sánchez, Smolarek for Pinillos, Tchite.

Goals:
1-0. 03. Raúl. Ran on to Van Nistelrooy through ball and shot low past Toño.
2-0. 10. Sergio Sánchez (own goal). Turned Sneijder cross in from close up.
3-0. 69. Raúl. Curled free kick through middle of defensive wall into net.
3-1. 72. Munitis. Got on end of Tchité's cross to turn shot wide of Casillas.

Real Madrid extended their lead at the top to four points pending Villarreal's game on Sunday after beating Racing Santander 3-1, their fifteenth win in a row at home. Within ten minutes Bernd Schuster's side were two up, Raúl running on to Van Nistelrooy's through ball to open the scoring in the third minute. And after Casillas saved from Scolari at the other end, ex Castilla defender Sergio Sánchez turned Sneijder's cross into his own net to make it two.

Having only let in nine goals all season Racing were not used to that, and they fought back with Duscher bringing a good save out of Casillas and Smolarek firing a shot against the post. Garay had to head a lob from Raúl off the line though with the keeper beaten, and early in the second half Robinho was unlucky to have a penalty appeal turned down after he was brought down by Colsa.

Midway through the second half Raúl though got his second of the night with a free kick which found it's way through an opening in the defensive wall, and the game was beyond the Cantabrians' reach. Munitis got one back against his old club a couple of minutes later after Tchité set him up, but Van Nistelrooy and Robben could both have increased the lead later on. Racing had been beaten for the first time in nine games, but with a four points gap over the rest, at least they will be sure of ending the weekend in seventh spot.