Sneijder strikes to ensure 10-man Real stay on track

Real Madrid stayed on course to retain the Spanish title after recovering from a first-half sending-off to seal a 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Real Murcia at the Bernabeu last night.

Real looked to be in trouble when their full-back Miguel Torres was given a straight red for ploughing into the Murcia midfielder Dani Aquino on 20 minutes.

But despite a poor performance they managed to make off with the points thanks to the Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who curled a shot into the corner on the hour after dispossessing a defender on the edge of the area.

The race for the Champions League places heated up after lowly Almeria beat Villarreal 1-0 last night, Atletico Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw at Valladolid and Seville won 3-2 away to Real Mallorca.

Villarreal, who relinquished second spot to Barcelona, found themselves down to 10 men after keeper Diego Lopez was sent off. Santiago Acasiete poked home the winner in the dying minutes.

Atletico looked on course for a narrow win after their Argentine midfielder Maxi Rodriguez put them in front with a spectacular half-volley midway through the second half. But Valladolid snatched a valuable point when the Nigerian striker Bartholomew Ogbeche slipped in behind the Atletico defence for the equaliser.

Atletico remain in fourth position in La Liga only a point ahead of Racing Santander, who beat Valencia 2-1 on Saturday, and three clear of Seville.

The Andalucians recorded an away victory over Mallorca thanks to goals from Renato, Frédéric Kanouté and Daniel Alves.