Real Madrid 5 - Málaga 1

Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Hierro, Iván Helguera, Roberto Carlos (Cambiasso 80'); Flavio Conceiçao, Guti; Figo (McManaman 76'), Raúl, Zidane (Solari 65'); Morientes. 4-2-3-1.
Málaga: Contreras; Josemi, Fernando Sanz, Roteta, Valcarce (Iznata 30'); Gerardo, Miguel Angel; Manu, Sandro, Musampa (Leko 72'); Dely Valdés (Canabal 72'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Iván Helguera, Flavio Conceiçao, Figo, Raúl, Zidane for Pavón, Miñambres, Makelele, McManaman, Tote / Málaga: Miguel Angel, Musampa for Romero, Nacho.

Goals:
1-0. 03. Morientes. Shot from edge of area after Zidane won ball off Gerard.
2-0. 14. Raúl. Turned on Guti pass and hit low shot past keeper.
3-0. 18. Roberto Carlos. Hit shot into roof of net after Raúl laid ball back.
4-0. 54. Morientes. Turned ball past Contreras after Raúl crossed in.
4-1. 62. Manu. Took pass from Sandro and hit shot into top corner of net.
5-1. 83. Raúl. Controlled pass from Guti and rolled shot under Contreras.

Real Madrid bounced back from their midweek Champions League defeat with a convincing 5-1 win over Málaga, and move back into second place a point behind the leaders. After a couple of days of criticism from the press, Del Bosque's side were apprehensive when they came out at the start. However the crowd gave them a rousing welcome, and as the game wore on their confidence grew in line with the goals. The visiting defence made it easy for them though, and Morientes opened the scoring in the third minute after Gerardo gave the ball away to Zidane, the French midfielder sending away Figo for him to lay the ball on for the striker (who was replacing the injured Ronaldo in the line up).

Ten minutes later Raúl picked up Guti's pass in a possible offside position to score a second, and then laid the ball back for Roberto Carlos to make it three with only eighteen minutes on the clock. After that it was plain sailing, although Manu did test Casillas before the half time whistle. Morientes made it four though in the second half after a mistake by Sandro let Raúl get away down the right wing and cross in low.

Madrid slackened off again after that, and Helguera was robbed by Sandro when dribbling out of defence, allowing him to set up Manu for Málaga's first goal. It was a sweet moment for both of the visiting players, who started their careers at the Bernabeu. Either side could have scored after that as both tried to play open football, but it was Raúl who was there again near the end to collect a long Guti pass and roll the ball in to the net with a little help from Roteta. Madrid are back, and with nothing left to go for, they have their sights fixed on the league title.