1 win at Almeria kept alive its hopes of catching league leader Barcelona in the Spanish league Thursday. Elsewhere, Valencia boosted its chances of securing a Champions League berth next season when it beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0. Barcelona has 83 points, three more than second-placed Real Madrid. Valencia was third on 59 and Mallorca fourth on 52. Another point behind was Sevilla. Madrid began the match in combative form, pressing Almeria's defense early. Striker Rafael van der Vaart connected powerfully with Alvaro Arbeloa's pass to force goalkeeper Diego Alves to save with his feet in the fourth minute. Alves had to save a long-range shot by Van der Vaart four minutes later and then parried a Cristiano Ronaldo free kick in the ninth. Slowly, Almeria began to win more possession and in a rapid attacking move up the right flank which beat Madrid's offside trap, Kalu Uche made a precise cross into the goalmouth where Albert Crusat dispatched his fifth goal of the season in the 14th. Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas had to save a free kick taken by Domingo Cisma with an athletic jump in the 22nd. Ronaldo leveled with his 19th goal of the season with moves including a trademark bicycle shuffle over the ball which wrong-footed Almeria defender Michel Macedo in the 27th minute. Madrid midfielder Jose Maria “Guti” Gutierrez, whom coach Manuel Pellegrini started, hit the post and Van der Vaart volleyed the rebound just wide of the left post on the half-hour mark. Three minutes later Uche avoided Madrid defender Sergio Ramos and forced a goal-line save from Casillas. Madrid came close to scoring in the 56th when Macedo cleared Gonzalo Higuain's shot off the goal-line. Almeria counterattacked instantly and Uche shot just over the bar a minute later. Van der Vaart scored Madrid's second in the 68th when he caught Alves going the wrong way as he hit a powerful shot from just inside the areas in the middle. David Silva scored for Valencia in the 35th minute, capitalizing on a goalmouth scramble after teammate Alexis Ruano miskicked an incoming corner. A minute later Valencia's Spain striker David Villa fell heavily on his left shoulder while challenging for a ball but although in obvious pain he later seemed to recover. Silva's second goal came after he controlled a precise pass from Joaquin Sanchez, subtly tapped the ball forward and then hit a powerful left-footed shot that beat Athletic goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz in the 62nd. Villa was substituted by Alejandro Jimenez in the 79th to fans' applause in Mestalla Stadium. On Wednesday, it was: Barcelona 3, Deportivo La Coruna 0; Osasuna 2, Malaga 2; Xerez 2, Atletico Madrid 1; Racing Santander 3, Espanyol 1; and Zaragoza 1, Mallorca 1. On Tuesday it was Valladolid 2, Sevilla 1; Tenerife 2, Sporting Gijon 0; and Getafe 3, Villarreal 0.
