Football story by Carl Anders, Tue, 07 Feb 2006 00:48:00 GMT


MADRID - Brazilian striker Ronaldo marked a spectacular return from injury as Real Madrid hardly broke a sweat in thrashing Espanyol 4-0 at the Bernabeu on Saturday. The win takes Real to the third spot in the La Liga and continues the marked improvement of the team in the second half of the season.

The match was effectively finished in the first 45 minutes itself as goals from Guti, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo put up an insurmountable lead. The French midfielder scored two great goals, one in each half, to guide his team to a well-deserved win. He appears to have struck a rich vein of form ahead of the World Cup and it should augur well for the French team.

This was Real's seventh consecutive win in the La Liga and they appear to have shaken off all the problems they had under former coach Wanderley Luxemburgo. England skipper David Beckham was delighted with the win and said that the team was on the right path, "I'm pleased with my personal performance but particularly with the way the team played overall. We're playing well under Lopez Caro and our confidence is growing," he said.

"The victory is important because it allows us to continue our good run, but for me, the most important aspect is that the team is showing the right mentality with all the players working hard for each other." He added that the team was jelling well and this should stand them in good stead as crucial Champions' League encounters loom ahead later this month.

Elsewhere, leaders Barcelona were stunned 3-1 at home by Athletico Madrid with Fernando Torres netting in two goals for the visitors. Third placed Valencia won 1-0 against Deportivo Coruna, a win, which saw them, move to the second spot ahead of Real Madrid.

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