Robinho on song in Madrid thriller

MADRID, Spain -- Brazilian striker Robinho scored twice as champions Real Madrid beat Real Mallorca in a 4-3 thriller to stay top of the Spanish Primera Liga.

The 23-year-old headed the hosts into a 12th minute lead from Marcelo's cross but Fernando Varela equalized just two minutes later.

Robinho then grabbed his fourth goal of the season in the 16th minute, superbly dispatching a pass from Raul.

But Real were all at sea in defense and defender Jose Nunes hammered a volley against the crossbar minutes later.

It was a warning -- and Varela matched Robinho by scoring his second of the match with a ferocious 36th minute strike before Guiza put Mallorca 3-2 ahead.

But Raul levelled matters for Bernd Schuster's side before Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy scored the 73rd minute winner in a see-saw game that underlined Real's attacking prowess and their defensive frailties.

Real were desperate to punish Barcelona's 2-0 defeat to Getafe on Saturday --but in the end they needed all their firepower to down Mallorca and make it six wins from six at home.

Barcelona are now four points behind Madrid, whose nearest challengers are Villarreal, just a point adrift after a sensational 3-2 win over 10-man Sevilla.

Matias Fernandez scored a decisive 85th minute penalty for Villarreal who had trailed at 2-1 despite Sevilla having Brazilian defender Daniel Alves dismissed shortly before half-time.

Guille Franco levelled at 2-2 with his second of the match before Fernandez struck the winner.

Sevilla's goals came from Frederic Kanoute and Luis Fabiano, his eighth of the season, in an enthralling end-to-end encounter.

In other matches, Almeria missed a penalty and saw two efforts crash against the woodwork as their domination of Atletico Madrid amounted to only a 0-0 draw.

Espanyol stretched their unbeaten run to eight games with a last-gasp 2-1 win at home to Athletic Bilbao.

Two late goals from substitute Mariano Pavone gave Real Betis a dramatic 2-1 win over Real Zaragoza at the Ruiz de Lopera stadium.

Racing Santander continued their good run of form as their 1-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna means it is now seven games unbeaten for the Verdiblancos.

Jonathan Sesma bagged his second goal of the season as resurgent Real Valladolid extended their unbeaten run to four games with a 1-0 win against rock-bottom Levante, while 10-man Recreativo Huelva clinched a vital three points with a deserved 1-0 win over Osasuna, Carlos Martins scoring with 19 minutes to go. E-mail to a friend