Raul milestone helps Real extend lead

(CNN) -- Real Madrid marched closer to a second successive Spanish league title on Sunday, moving six points clear at the top after beating Sevilla 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Bernd Schuster's side bounced back from last weekend's shock defeat by Valencia to take advantage of Barcelona's surprise 3-2 loss to Real Betis on Saturday night.

Real now have 65 points with eight games remaining, ahead of Villarreal -- 3-0 victors against fourth-placed Atletico Madrid on Saturday on 59 and Barcelona one further back.

Gabriel Heinze, having moved from left-back into central defense to replace the injured Pepe, put the home side ahead in the seventh minute with his first goal for Real when he headed home Wesley Schneider's free-kick.

Raul was twice denied by Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop before striker Fredi Kanoute volleyed home an equalizer eight minutes from half-time.

Captain Raul scored two minutes later for his 290th Real goal to make him the club's joint second all-time top scorer along with Carlos Alonso Santillana -- 17 scores behind Alfredo di Stefano's benchmark total.

Gonzalo Higuain added a third on 65 minutes as Real ended a sequence of two successive league defeats.

In Sunday's other games, Kings Cup finalists Valencia crashed to a demoralizing 3-0 home defeat to Real Mallorca, with Spain international Daniel Guiza netting twice.

Racing Santander kept alive their unexpected hopes of Champions League qualification with a 3-0 victory at Espanyol which left the little-fancied outfit level on points with Atletico.

Real Zaragoza, who qualified for the UEFA Cup last season, are fourth from bottom following a 2-1 defeat by fellow strugglers Valladolid.

Deportivo La Coruna moved four points clear of the relegation zone with a 3-1 win over struggling Real Murcia, while bottom club Levante suffered a 21st defeat of the season, losing 2-1 at Almeria. E-mail to a friend

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