Ronaldo, Zidane star for Real

MADRID: Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo scored a goal each on Sunday as Real Madrid downed title rivals Deportivo de La Coruna 2-0 and stretched their lead at the top of the Spanish Football League standings to three points.

Zidane netted on the stroke of half-time, while the Brazilian added a second goal in the 50th minute to earn Madrid their fifth league victory in succession. Earlier on Sunday, second-place Real Sociedad conceded two injury-time goals in a 2-2 home draw with Villarreal, after striker Darko Kovacevic had appeared to set up a victory with two earlier strikes. After 27 matches, Madrid have 57 points and Sociedad have 54. Deportivo are next with 51 points, followed by Valencia with 47 and Celta de Vigo with 44 points. In other matches on Sunday, Dutch forwards Patrick Kluivert and Marc Overmars each scored twice as FC Barcelona crushed Racing de Santander 6-1.

Meanwhile, defending champions Valencia could only draw 1-1 at home to Espanyol and extended their winless streak to four matches, while Egyptian striker Ahmed “Mido” Hossam netted on his debut for Celta in a 2-1 win over Athletic de Bilbao. Elsewhere it was: Malaga 0, Real Betis 0, Recreativo de Huelva 1, Osasuna 1; Mallorca 2, Valladolid 1; and Sevilla 3, Alaves 2. Madrid maintained their 28-month unbeaten home record in the Spanish League as Deportivo failed to create clear chances and suffered their first defeat in eight league matches.