Real Madrid snatched a last-gasp 4-3 victory over Espanyol on
Saturday to go top of the Primera Liga for the first time since
September.
The nine-times European champions trailed 3-1 at the interval
after a 19-minute hat-trick from Uruguayan striker Walter
Pandiani.
But Real fought back when captain Raul netted four minutes after
the restart and substitute Jose Antonio Reyes equalised eight
minutes later.
Espanyol, who face fellow Spaniards Sevilla in Wednesday's UEFA
Cup final in Glasgow, looked to have done enough to earn a draw
until an 89th-minute strike from Gonzalo Higuain gave the hosts
victory.
The Argentine striker sent the Bernabeu crowd wild when he
squeezed a low shot past keeper Carlos Kameni after exchanging a
sharp one-two with Reyes.
Real (66 points) lead the table by one point from Barcelona, who
play their game in hand at home to struggling Real Betis on
Sunday.
Sevilla, a point further back in third spot, warmed up for their
UEFA Cup defence with a 2-1 win at home to Recreativo Huelva.
Italian midfielder Enzo Maresca put Sevilla in front in the 13th
minute when he fired low past keeper Bertrand Laquait from the edge
of the area.
Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano made it 2-0 with a well-taken
penalty before midfielder Jesus Vazquez pulled one back for
Recreativo with another spot kick two minutes from time.
Fabio Capello's side made the early running at the Bernabeu,
pinning a largely second-string Espanyol back in their area and
giving the visitors several scares.
Real though fell victim to the first of Espanyol's rapier-like
counter-attacks in the 15th minute.
Jonatas robbed Guti in midfield, slipped the ball to Francisco
Rufete on the right flank and the winger curled a superb pass
behind the defence for Pandiani to defeat a helpless Iker Casillas
in goal.
Real were hit by an almost identical strike 11 minutes later,
the same two players carving their way through the midfield.
Real threw everything at Espanyol after the break and made it
3-2 when Raul drilled the ball under Kameni following a clever
backheel from Van Nistelrooy. Reyes then slotted into an open goal
after Kameni collided with one of his defenders as he failed to
claim the ball.
(China Daily via AFP May 14, 2007)