Real claim fighting 2-0 victory over Barcelona

Real Madrid barged their way back into the Spanish title race on Sunday as goals from Fernando Morientes and Luis Figo earned them a 2-0 victory in a bruising clash with Barcelona.

Real struck with their only clear chance of the first half, Morientes heading home a far-post header from Raul after 24 minutes.

The European champions then pegged the Catalans back with some committed defensive work.

As Barca chased an equaliser with ever more desperation, a swift break from Raul and Claude Makelele set up Figo to score against his former club.

Real's win re-ignited their Spanish title defence, dragging them up from 15th at the start of play to seventh.

It also helped to strengthen Deportivo Coruna's lead at the top. Javier Irureta's side, who scored four times in 20 minutes on their way to a 5-1 win at home to Osasuna, lead the standings with 23 points from 11 games.

Valencia, the only unbeaten side in the first division, are two points back in second spot after a 2-1 win at home to Rayo Vallecano, with Barcelona now third on 19 points.

Nervous Start

Real, who remain seven points behind Depor but just three shy of Barca, made a nervous start to a match they desperately needed to win.

They struggled to keep possession in front of a 75,000 full house in the early stages as Barcelona broke forward from the first whistle.

Xavi fired a 30-metre freekick over the bar on seven minutes before Marc Overmars eased past the Real defence to collect a through ball from Patrick Kluivert, only to slip as he shaped to shoot.

Real took the lead as they attacked with conviction for the first time in the match.

Steve McManaman ran on to Zinedine Zidane's pass out left and crossed to Raul at the far post. The Spanish striker saw his header blocked by Francesco Coco but Morientes reacted first to the loose ball to head past Roberto Bonano.

The goal gave Real a huge lift and Barcelona immediately lost their grip on the game.

Rivaldo saw his second-half freekick strike Kluivert and balloon over the bar and Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas did well to save a clever near-post shot from the Dutch international.

Casillas then saved point-blank from a Gabri header but a second Real goal began to look more and more likely as Barca pressed forward.

It arrived three minutes into injury-time, with Figo side-footing home against his former club for the first time since his $56 million move from the Camp Nou in the summer of 2000.

"We dominated the first 45 minutes," said frustrated Barcelona coach Carles Rexach. "There weren't too many chances for either side but we were in control."