Atlético Madrid 0 - Real Madrid 4

Atlético: Esteban; Otero (Jorge 21'), Coloccini, García Calvo, Sergi; Albertini, Emerson; Aguilera, José Marí (Movilla 67'), Luis García; Fernando Torres. 4-2-3-1.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Hierro,Iván Helguera, Roberto Carlos (Pavón 85'); Makelele, Guti; Figo (McManaman 73'), Raúl, Zidane (Solari 75'); Ronaldo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Atlético: Otero, Emerson, Aguilera for Contra, Nagore, Movilla / Madrid: Guti for Flavio Conceiçao.

Goals:
0-1. 06. Ronaldo. Ran on to Zidane through ball to shoot across Esteban.
0-2. 19. Raúl. Volley close up on far post from long Figo cross.
0-3. 31. Ronaldo. Connected with Roberto Carlos cross to tap in on far post.
0-4. 74. Raúl. Turned Zidane free kick from left past Westerveld.

A thrilling penultimate weekend in the Spanish league, with Real Madrid thrashing their neighbours Atlético Madrid 0-4 to overtake rivals Real Sociedad and move to the top of the table. Del Bosque left nothing to chance and put out his first choice side, even though many of them had only just returned from international duty. But they showed they had not lost any of their drive as they raced into a three goal lead with only half an hour on the clock. Ronaldo started things off in the sixth minute, firing a shot past Esteban after Zidane put him through, and Raúl made it two from Figo's cross a few minutes later.

Luis Aragonés was furious with his side and made his first change with only twenty minutes gone, Jorge coming on for Otero and Aguilera dropping to right back. Casillas stood his ground though, and on the half hour mark it was Ronaldo again who was there to poke the ball home after Roberto Carlos set him up from the left wing. The game was virtually over, and early in the second half the disappointed home fans started to leave.

Atlético did improve somewhat in the second half, with Fernando Torres the only real threat to Casillas. But just as McManaman was coming on the field to replace a Figo who had been given a hard time by the fans, Zidane whipped in a low free kick which Raúl turned easily past the keeper. It was a poor result for Atlético's new president Enrique Cerezo, who had taken over from his business partner Jesús Gil a few days ago, but his side had virtually nothing to play for other than a remote chance of reaching the UEFA spots, and even that had disappeared by the end of this match. They could still do their city rivals a favour next week though when they visit Real Sociedad, although now that Del Bosque's side have the advantage they will not want to depend on anyone when they host Athletic Bilbao next week. There is too much at stake.