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Becks` injury no deterrent to Real`s romp against Murcia
Madrid, Jan 05: Real Madrid overcame the loss of injured David Beckham and flu-struck Zinedine Zidane to open up a five-point gap at the top of the Spanish first division with a 1-0 win over struggling Murcia.
Madrid, Jan 05: Real Madrid overcame the loss of injured David Beckham and flu-struck Zinedine Zidane to open up a five-point gap at the top of the Spanish first division with a 1-0 win over struggling Murcia.
Beckham was forced to leave the field after 79 minutes after a crunching tackle by Rafael Clavero left him with a bloodied right ankle Friday.
The England skipper needed four stitches in a wound on the ankle, making him doubtful for Wednesday's Spanish Cup match against Eibar.
Raul scored the only goal of the game after just eight minutes as the Spanish international striker became the third highest scorer in the club's history.
He joins Hugo Sanchez on 164 goals in third place in a table topped by the Alfredo Di Sefano (216 goals from 1953 to 1960) and Carlos Santillana (186 goals from 1971 to 1988).
Real had already lost the services of Zidane at half-time with the Frenchman suffering from a heavy cold and a fever.
The absence of two of their more creative players had a destablising effect on the league leaders who had to withstand long periods of Murcia pressure and the visitors, second from bottom of the table, had two penalty appeals turned down.
Deportivo La Coruna began 2004 in rampant fashion by thrashing Celta Vigo 5-0 away, with Spanish striker Victor smashing a hat-trick and Alberto Luque and Diego Tristan notching the other goals. The victory left Deportivo in third place, one point behind Valencia.
Bureau Report
Beckham was forced to leave the field after 79 minutes after a crunching tackle by Rafael Clavero left him with a bloodied right ankle Friday.
The England skipper needed four stitches in a wound on the ankle, making him doubtful for Wednesday's Spanish Cup match against Eibar.
Raul scored the only goal of the game after just eight minutes as the Spanish international striker became the third highest scorer in the club's history.
He joins Hugo Sanchez on 164 goals in third place in a table topped by the Alfredo Di Sefano (216 goals from 1953 to 1960) and Carlos Santillana (186 goals from 1971 to 1988).
Real had already lost the services of Zidane at half-time with the Frenchman suffering from a heavy cold and a fever.
The absence of two of their more creative players had a destablising effect on the league leaders who had to withstand long periods of Murcia pressure and the visitors, second from bottom of the table, had two penalty appeals turned down.
Deportivo La Coruna began 2004 in rampant fashion by thrashing Celta Vigo 5-0 away, with Spanish striker Victor smashing a hat-trick and Alberto Luque and Diego Tristan notching the other goals. The victory left Deportivo in third place, one point behind Valencia.
Bureau Report