/world sport
MADRID, Spain -- Champions Real Madrid maintained their superb start to the Spanish season with a 5-1 victory over slumping Valencia in the Mestella on Wednesday night.
Real striker Ruud van Nistelrooy scores his first and his side's second in the 5-1 rout.
It was the fifth defeat in six matches for Valencia and equaled their worst ever home defeat dating back to the 1932-33 season. It came after Ronald Koeman was confirmed as their new coach when he quit Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven earlier in the evening.
The scale of Koeman's task was underlined as it took Real only 45 seconds to make the breakthrough as Brazilian Robinho finished a mazy run to set up Raul for the opener.
Ruud van Nistelrooy added Real's second after 24 minutes when Raul headed on a long ball forward and the Dutch striker scored with a clever chip.
Real were 3-0 up inside half an hour as Sergio Ramos hammered the ball home following a Guti pass.
Robinho was the creator again as he set up Van Nistelrooy for a fourth before the break.
Real relaxed after half time and Miguel Angel Angulo got one back for Valencia after 58 minutes but Robinho deservedly got on the scoresheet to wrap up a convincing victory.
Valencia's dismal night was capped when Raul Albiol was shown red in the 81st minute.
Real have opened up a four-point advantage over second-placed Villarreal who beat struggling Levante 3-0 earlier on Wednesday.
Barcelona can cut the gap to two points if they beat Valladolid on Thursday. E-mail to a friend 
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