Sevilla stay on Barca trail as Raul saves Real

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AFP November 26, 2006 MADRID (AFP) - Sevilla stayed in the hunt for the Spanish league title with a comprehensive 3-1 victory away at Athletic Bilbao. Sevilla's ninth win of the season from 12 games keeps them just a point adrift of reigning champions and leaders Barcelona, who reminded everyone of their status with a Ronaldinho-inspired 4-0 drubbing of Villarreal on Saturday. Real Madrid escaped the pitfall of losing points on their trip to Valencia, with out-of-favour Spain icon Raul finding the net in the 52nd minute to seal a precious 1-0 win away on the east coast. That victory, Real's eighth of the season, means they remain three points adrift of Barcelona but three ahead of Real Zaragoza and still very much in the hunt for the title. Raul struck six minutes after the restart, scoring his third league goal of the season after latching on to a superbly-weighted pass from Brazilian wing back Roberto Carlos deep on the left wing. The Spaniard's first timer from 12 yards left Valencia's outstretched keeper Santiago Canizares clutching at thin air. Valencia missed a golden chance to level two minutes later when Spain striker Joaquin forced Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas to dive low to his right and parry his drive. The ball fell to the unmarked Miguel Angel Angulo, who fluffed the rebound before recovering the ball and firing into the side-netting. Valencia, already hit by a raft of injuries, suffered a blow when they had to pull off their striker David Villa, who did not appear to be fully recovered from a thigh injury picked up in Champions League action in midweek, before a quarter of an hour was played. But instead of sending on another striker in the shape of Fernando Morientes Valencia coach Quique Flores put on midfielder Vicente. Flores' tactical choices failed to pay off, with Angulo missing a great chance to level the game in the 89th minute. It was Valencia's first defeat at their Metsalla stadium in over a year, but still, Real coach Fabio Capello refused to wallow in victory. "We were lucky," said the Italian. "Valencia had a few chances to score and as a team they impressed me, especially in the first half." Sevilla got off to the perfect start in the normally hostile stadium of Athletic Bilbao, scoring twice inside the first 10 minutes. Luis Fabiano opened the scoring after just four minutes after sending a superb header past the hosts' keeper Lafuente. Former West Ham and Tottenham striker Frederic Kanoute was sublime on the right wing, mesmerising his marker before delivering a cross which the unmarked Fabiano rose to head into the Athletic goal. Midfielder Marti added a second minutes later with a little help from Lafuente to give their hosts a mountain to climb. Athletic were given a glimpse of a share of the points when Aduriz beat Palop in the visitors goal from close range in the 69th minute after a header from a free kick came off the upright. However all hope of a share of the points was extinguished in injury time added on when Fabiano struck his second of the match for Sevilla. Barcelona's Ronaldinho meanwhile ended the weekend on cloud nine after scoring twice in their drubbing of Villarreal, his second, a spectacular overhead kick, impressing the Brazilian wizard himself. "I've dreamed since I was a kid of scoring a goal like that," said Ronaldinho. Iceland international Eidur Gudjohnsen and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta scored a goal apiece in the win.