Nistlerooy double gives Real win

MADRID, Spain — Ruud van Nistelrooy scored two late goals as Spanish champions Real Madrid defeated bottom side Levante 2-0 on Sunday to re-establish their seven-point lead over Barcelona at the top of the Primera Liga table.

A staggering 36 points separated Real and Levante before kick-off but on the pitch there was little to choose between them before Dutch striker van Nistelrooy’s stole the points with his 10th and 11th goals of the campaign.

The Dutch forward put Real ahead on 76 minutes from the penalty spot before adding a second two minutes from time with a clincal strike.

Real now lead Barca, who beat Murcia 4-0 on Saturday, by seven points with Espanyol in third despite seeing their 14-match unbeaten run come to an abrupt end with a surprise 1-0 defeat at Almeria on Sunday.

Espanyol had not lost since a 2-1 defeat to Recreativo Huelva at the end of September but an 87th minute goal from Kalu Uche ended that run.

Villarreal are now breathing down their necks after a 4-3 comeback win over Deportivo La Coruna.

Turkish international Nihat scored twice in as many minutes to help Villarreal move back into the top four and close to within a point of Espanyol.

Villarreal looked to be heading for their seventh defeat as they trailed 2-1 but Nihat struck twice, in the 66th and 68th minutes, to turn the game in their favor and propel them into the Champions League spots.

Meanwhile, Levante started the better against Real — but the champions looked dangerous going forward and Julio Baptista and Raul both had efforts cleared off the goal-line.

In the second half Baptista and Brazilian compatriot Robinho both hit the post as Levante rode their luck.

Real had only failed to score in of the their previous 18 league matches and the breakthrough came on 76 minutes when Jose Serrano handled in the area.

Van Nistelrooy made no mistake with the penalty sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and he scored again on 88 minutes as Real took the spoils.

At the opposite end of the table Real Betis climbed out of the bottom three with a crucial 3-2 home victory over fellow-strugglers Getafe.

A brace from Argentine Hugo Pavone and an Edu strike clinched a fourth win of the season for the Seville club who moved up to 16th. E-mail to a friend

Nistlerooy double gives Real win – found here.