Real Madrid extend Liga lead

Real Madrid defeated Recreativo in La Liga on Saturday to give the defending champions a five point lead over Barcelona. Real Madrid had to fight back from going a goal down in order to get the victory.

Madrid, lacking its injured top scorer Ruud van Nistelrooy, fell behind at Recreativo in the 16th minute when defender Martin Caceres ran in at the far post to steer home Carlos Martin's inswinging freekick.

Raul leveled in the 28th by running to head home Royston Drenthe's cross, an instant before being laid low by Recreativo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino, who mistimed his dash from the goal and caught the striker in the face. Both Raul and Sorrentino required treatment before they could resume.

Raul, whose goal was his 12th of the season, was making his 643rd appearance in all competitions for Madrid, making him the club's joint second most experienced player of all time. Former defender Manuel Sanchis, who played in the 1980s and '90s, leads the list with 712 matches.

Recreativo was hit by the dismissal of Portuguese midfielder Beto in the 52nd minute for striking Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze in the face.

Numerical parity was established four minutes later when Ramos received his second yellow card for elbowing Florent Sinama-Pongolle, although Alvarez was then sent off for a foul on winger Arjen Robben in the 67th.

Robinho, who returned from nearly a month's injury absence to take the field in place of Fabio Cannavaro in the 72nd minute, volleyed home a loose ball a minute later to give Madrid the lead.

The Brazilian doubled his tally by delivering a deft lob over Sorrentino in injury time to seal Madrid's win, four days before Wednesday's Champions League match with AS Roma on Wednesday.

Recreativo's nine men reduced the lead moments later through Martins' curling free kick from the edge of the area.