Real Madrid notched up their sixth league win in a row with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Espanyol on Saturday and have cut Barcelona´s lead to just four points. Real´s first was scored by Zinedine Zidane in the 13th minute when he picked the ball up on the left, saw off the challenge of Ibarra, advanced into the area and drilled a powerful left foot shot past Kameni. Casillas kept out an Ito effort minutes later after an assist by the irrepresible De la Peña.

Real Madrid were two up on the half hour when Raúl reacted first to a loose ball after Kameni´s fine block save from a spectacular and well hit bicycle kick from Figo. Casillas pulled off another fine save, turning away a De la Peña free kick for a corner, while at the other end, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos both went close. The third came in the 75th minute although television replays clearly show that Raúl was in an offside position when Santiago Solari released his cross in from the left. Ex-Evertonian Thomas Gravesen opened his account for his new club with an 84th minute strike from the edge of the penalty area which beat the keeper low down to his left.