Stalemate at La Coruña means Real extend winless streak to seven games

The Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque was not panicking despite Saturday night's scoreless draw at Deportivo La Coruña.

Real have now gone seven games without a win, including three Champions' League games, and have still not won away since last March.

"It was an intense, balanced game and each side had chances to score. We had our moments, but Deportivo also enjoyed theirs," Del Bosque said. Real Sociedad stayed three points clear at the top of La Liga, the Turk Nihat Kahveci scoring the only goal of their game at Villarreal. His sixth in eight league games ensured that Raynald Denoueix's side retain their advantage over last season's champions Valencia, with Real in fifth, four points behind.

It was also two points lost for Deportivo, who have still to guarantee their place in the next phase of the Champions' League – though they almost broke the deadlock in the first half. Victor Sanchez curled a free-kick over the wall and towards goal, only for the ball to hit the bar and be cleared.

"It was a very even game and conditioned by the efforts both teams made in the Champions' League in midweek that meant we were not fresh," their coach Javier Irureta said. "There were very few chances but our chances were clearer than theirs and it was also obvious that both sides know each other inside out."

Barcelona had to work hard for a 1-1 draw at Racing Santander last night. The home side were off to a flying start with a goal after just 70 seconds, Javi Guerrero heading home. Louis van Gaal's side strove hard for an equaliser, but it was only with eight minutes to go that the young defender Fernando Navarro scored with a powerful header from a Juan Roman Riquelme free-kick.

* A goal after five minutes from the Valerenga striker Bjorn Arild Levernes gave the Oslo side their third Norwegian Cup win yesterday with a 1-0 victory over Odd Grenland.