Ronaldo double keeps Real in touch
MADRID, Spain (Reuters) -- A second-half double from Ronaldo earned below-par Real Madrid a 2-1 win at home to Espanyol on Sunday and kept the champions in touch with Primera leaders Valencia.
Real took the lead in the 53rd minute when Raul turned inside the box and crossed for Ronaldo to finish from close range. David Beckham crossed for Ronaldo's second.
Ricardo Oliveira's brilliant strike gave Valencia a 1-0 win Barcelona.
Real could afford a penalty miss from Luis Figo after Ronaldo's opener, with Beckham's pin-point accuracy setting up the Brazilian World Cup star for an 82nd minute clincher.
Espanyol were then reduced to 10 men in injury time after Pierre Wome got his second yellow card but Real were made to pay for easing up as Alex Fernandez produced a sparkling individual effort to get a consolation goal for the visitors just as the whistle was about to go.
There was a boost for England ahead of their Euroe 2004 qualifier against Turkey next week as Beckham came through the match relatively unscathed.
"There'll be no problem playing for my country," said Beckham, who missed Real's Champions League win over Porto this week because of a foot injury.
"There was no reaction to the injury, although it's true my foot does hurt a bit."
Valencia, 2-0 winners over Real Madrid last weekend, were outplayed by Barca for much of an entertaining Nou Camp clash but the Ches clinched victory with a first-time shot from the edge of the box by Brazilian Oliveira after 15 minutes.
A fifth successive win for Rafa Benitez's side took them back to the summit with 16 points from six matches, one point clear of Deportivo Coruna after their 5-1 home win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday, with Real a further point behind.
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