Real rocked by shock Almeria reverse

MADRID, Spain -- Spanish leaders Real Madrid suffered a shock 2-0 defeat away to La Liga newcomers Almeria on Saturday night, giving second-placed Barcelona hope that the title race is not yet over.

Barcelona can cut Real's lead to six points on Sunday by beating Osasuna.

The defending champions, who had the chance to move 12 points clear, saw their eight-game winning streak end as they suffered only their third defeat this season.

Almeria, founded as recently as 1989, celebrated the biggest victory of the club's short history thanks to goals from Juanito and Alvaro Negredo.

It was a fourth straight win which lifted the unfashionable outfit to seventh place, just one point off the UEFA Cup spots.

Real, last beaten 2-0 by Sevilla in November, went behind in the 16th minute when defender Juanito pounced after the visitors failed to clear a set-piece.

Almeria goalkeeper Diego Alves was lucky to be only booked for a body check on Sergio Ramos outside the penalty area, and Real counterpart Iker Casillas was so incensed that he too received a yellow card for dissent.

Madrid suffered another blow when top scorer Ruud van Nistelrooy, who suffered a stomach illness during the week, limped off at the end of the first half with an ankle injury.

Real went further behind two minutes after half-time when defender Fabio Cannavaro was ruled to have fouled Negredo and the in-form striker sent Casillas the wrong way from the penalty spot for his seventh goal of the season.

"Almeria showed how good they are, and if you don't score it is always difficult," Real coach Bernd Schuster said.

"The other day I heard someone smart saying how the league was poor because of our points advantage over the rest, but this shows the strength of the Spanish league and why it is the most competitive in the world."

In Saturday's late match, Deportivo La Coruna moved out of the bottom three with a 1-0 win at fellow strugglers Real Betis.

Pablo Amo scored the only goal as Deportivo's victory saw Real Murcia drop into the relegation zone. E-mail to a friend

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