MADRID: Leaders Real Madrid needed two late goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy to beat basement club Levante 2-0 away in the Primera Liga on Sunday.
The Dutchman scored with a penalty and a long-range effort in the last 15 minutes to end a spirited display from the home side, and restore Real’s seven-point lead at the midway point of the season. Barcelona are second with 40 points following their 4-0 hammering of Real Murcia at the Nou Camp on Saturday.
Levante had one goal and one point to their name from their previous five outings but took the game to Real, causing the visitors problems at every set piece. Julio Baptista and Raul had shots blocked on the line in a double chance at a corner in the 22nd minute, but offered little before the break.
Soon after the restart, Baptista and Robinho wasted golden opportunities. A handball in the 75th minute gave Van Nistelrooy the chance to break the deadlock from the penalty spot, and with two minutes to go he fired in a low shot from outside the area to seal the win.
Atletico Madrid climbed to third on 37 points after riding their luck to secure a 1-0 home win over Valencia. Espanyol slipped to fourth on 36 after their 14-match unbeaten run ended in a 0-1 defeat at Almeria.
