By ESPNsoccernet staff
Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of the Primera Division to six
points with a comfortable 5-1 win over Granada.
Real looked in for a testing evening when Mikel Rico (22) cancelled out Karim
Benzema's 19th-minute opener to reward the visitors for an encouraging
performance.
But Sergio Ramos headed Jose Mourinho's side back in front on 34 minutes and
the game was over as a contest when Gonzalo Higuain and Benzema scored within
five minutes of the start of the second period.
Cristiano Ronaldo then added further gloss to the scoreline with the fifth goal
two minutes from time.
Manolo Jimenez made a losing start to his tenure as Real Zaragoza coach as
Racing Santander inflicted a narrow 1-0 defeat on the strugglers.
Jimenez took over a side rock bottom of the table after the departure from the
hotseat of Javier Aguirre, four points behind 19th-placed Racing and five adrift
of safety.
Yet it was Racing who gave themselves a shot in the arm at El Sardinero as
Bernardo Espinosa's header in first-half injury-time proved enough to earn a
welcome victory.
Real Sociedad and Osasuna stretched their unbeaten league runs to six games with a 0-0 draw but it was the visitors who were happier as the hosts dominated almost the entire
match.
Goalkeeper Andres Fernandes was the Osasuna's main man as he made a string of
fine saves, the best coming just three minutes from time as he pushed away Diego
Ifran's well-struck volley.
Carlos Vela had earlier hit the bar as Sociedad were made to pay for their
profligacy in front of goal and the Basque side could even have lost the game as
Nino went just wide with Osasuna's best effort towards the end.
An inspired performance from goalkeeper Gustavo Munua secured a point for
Levante in a disappointing 0-0 draw with Real Mallorca.
Both sides appeared a little rusty after the two-week Christmas break during a
tepid first half, but it was Munua who came to the fore in the second to as he
saved from Pablo Cendros, Victor and Jose Luis Marti.
Levante failed to create the same number of openings but were also slightly
unfortunate as Arouna Kone's goal was ruled out for a very marginal offside
decision.
In the day's late game, troubled Atletico Madrid held Malaga to a 0-0 draw and stopped them from going fifth.
Atletico had lost six of their opening seven matches on their travels this
term, contributing to a hugely disappointing start to the campaign that led to
Gregorio Manzano being dismissed as coach just before Christmas.
Former midfielder Diego Simeone was named as Manzano's replacement and his first
match in the hotseat saw Atletico claim a hard-fought draw.
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