Real Madrid made it seven straight league victories with a 1-0 win over a determined Racing Santander at the Bernabéu.
The reigning champions have conceded just one goal in their winning run and sit clear in second place behind runaway leaders Barcelona. Madrid's football may not be as attractive nor attack-minded as the Catalans, but their new coach Juande Ramos has instilled a winning mentality.
"We managed to grab another win and that gives the team confidence," Ramos said. "We are not conceding goals and got another three points and that's the important thing."
Only an implausible Barca slip-up will give Madrid a chance of retaining their title, so Ramos's physical, defence minded, side are well prepared to meet Liverpool in the Champions League. And in winger Arjen Robben, Madrid have a sublime talent who can unlock any defence.
Robben didn't score against Santander, but again he was Madrid's best player before being replaced by French debutant Julien Faubert, who signed from West Ham United last month. The right winger's impact was limited, however.
Gonzalo Higuain scored Madrid's goal in the 49th minute when he ran on to Raul's headed pass. The Argentine avoided a sliding challenge from Cesar Navas and chipped the ball over Racing goalkeeper Tono into the far corner for his 13th league goal of the season.
Madrid are not killing teams off though and Racing's Jonathan Pereira had a chance to equalise after 75 minutes.
Iker Casillas - making his 454th Madrid appearance to equal the club's goalkeeping record held by Buyo - raced out to block the forward's shot and Fabio Cannavaro cleared.
Higuain played down suggestions that the champions have become "boring" to watch. He said: "The key thing is that we haven't conceded any goals and the team continue winning. I don't think that we are boring. The team have won once again and picked up three points from a difficult game.
"The most important thing is that we continue along this line, to win seven successive games isn't easy. We have to continue like that. What is important now is that we rest and think about the next game. We need to continue along this line and continue working."
In Saturday's other game, Real Betis won 2-1 in an ill-tempered derby at Sevilla.
After starting the year in second, Sevilla have now lost three consecutive league games.
The home side had the best chances, but when midfielder Aldo Duscher was dismissed for a second yellow card after 69 minutes, Sergio Garcia struck immediately for Betis.
Sensing their fifth away win of the season - against just two at home - Betis attacked and Ricardo Oliveira, playing his first match since his return to the club from second-division Real Zaragoza, scored an 83rd-minute winner.
The Brazilian striker, Betis's top scorer in the 2004-05 season, has already reassumed his hero status. Frederic Kanoute headed a late consolation goal for Sevilla.
"It should not be a dream for us to win here," said Betis coach Paco Chaparro. "We deserved it."
* With agencies
DMZ facts
- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
- The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
- It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
- Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Aahid Al Khalediah II, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Whistle, Harry Bentley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup - Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alsaied, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Mumayaza, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
8pm: President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Medahim, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
