Real Madrid 2 - Betis 0

Madrid: Casillas; Miguel Torres, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Heinze; Higuain (Robinho 59'), Diarra, Guti, Sneijder (Baptista 78'); Saviola (Robben 59'), Raúl. 4-4-2.
Betis: Ricardo; Melli, Juanito, Rivas, Fernando Vega; Somoza, Juande; Odonkor (Xisco 71'), Edu, Mark González (Caffa 84'); Sobis. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Miguel Torres, Heinze, Higuain, Sneijder, Saviola for Michel Salgado, Marcelo, Robinho, Drenthe, Van Nistelrooy / Betis: Melli, Odonkor for Ilic, Fernando.

Goals:
1-0. 68. Raúl (penalty). After Raúl himself brought down by Rivas inside area.
2-0. 86. Baptista. Overhead kick past Ricardo after Diarra headed ball on.

Real Madrid moved back to the top of the table after beating Betis 2-0 on Thursday night. Victories for Villarreal, Valencia and Barcelona the day before had dropped them down to fourth. But Raúl put them ahead from the penalty spot midway through the second half after Rivas brought him down, and substitute Baptista got the second with a spectacular overhead kick near the end.

The visitors felt themselves unlucky to go away empty handed though after hitting the woodwork three times, Rivas heading a corner against the post before the break, and Diarra deflecting a Sobis free kick against the bar and Mark González also shooting against the post shortly after Raúl's goal. And it was really not until Robben came on for the last half hour that Schuster's side started to fire, the Dutch winger having a hand in both goals and also having a goal ruled out for offside.