Real Madrid sent an emphatic warning to Champions League opponents Liverpool on Saturday when they thrashed Real Betis 6-1 to move seven points behind leaders Barcelona, who suffered a shock 2-1 derby defeat against Espanyol.
Real scored all their goals in a terrific first half to record a ninth straight league win and they are brimming with confidence for Wednesday's last 16 Champions League match with Liverpool at the Santiago Bernabeu.
"I never said the league wasn't on," said Real coach Juande Ramos.
"Just like we had a dip in the first half of the season - due to injuries and other factors - other teams will have the same experience over a long season.
"We are closer to Barcelona but they still have a significant advantage and seven points is still a lot."
Barcelona travel to Lyon tomorrow- for their European clash and will be kicking themselves after the loss to Espanyol, who won at the Nou Camp for the first time since 1982.
Old boy Ivan de la Pena, who played at Barcelona from 1995 to 1998, scored twice to gun down his old club, who had Seydou Keita sent off after 37 minutes.
It was Barcelona's first defeat since the opening day of the season, ending their 22-match unbeaten run and in just a fortnight Real have sliced their lead from 12 points to seven.
"Nobody said it was going to be easy," said Barca coach Pep Guardiola. "We have lost today but we are still in a strong position and will recover from this setback."
Guardiola refused to criticize referee Delgado Ferreira for sending off Keita but teammate Xavi didn't mince his words.
"The referee got it (Keita's sending off) wrong," fumed Xavi. "He decided the game and apart from that he didn't allow it to flow at all."
Real took full advantage with Gonzalo Higuain opening the scoring in the seventh minute with his 14th goal of the season before Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored twice.
Liverpool needn't worry about Dutch forward Huntelaar scoring against them as UEFA rules forced Real to omit the 20-million-euro ($25.7 million) signing from the Champions League squad with Lass Diarra grabbing the final place.
Captain Raul will be available though, and the veteran striker scored a quick-fire brace in the 36th and 42nd minutes as Real led 6-1 at the interval.
Ricardo Oliviera, a nine-million-euro signing from Real Zaragoza, had pulled a goal back on the half hour mark for Betis and it was the first goal Real had conceded in five league matches.
Sergio Ramos completed the first half rout.
Barcelona have been cruising for most of this season but have hit a rocky patch with the Betis draw followed up by defeat to Espanyol.
Thierry Henry spurned a great chance after 13 minutes heading over from close range after Lionel Messi's great cross.
It was a fast-paced match and on 37 minutes Keita was red-carded for a late tackle on Moises Hurtado giving Barcelona an uphill task.
Guardiola was furious about the decision while Keita looked stunned, probably expecting a yellow card rather than a red.
Five minutes into the second half it got worse for Barcelona when old boy de la Pena headed the visitors in front. The 32-year-old then scored again five minutes later with a terrific chip.
Yaya Toure gave Barcelona hope with a 62nd-minute strike but Espanyol held on to triumph in a heated game which produced ten yellow cards and one red.
For Espanyol it was a first victory since the beginning of November and they move off the foot of the table with Numancia taking their place.
Elsewhere, Villarreal went fourth thanks to a 2-1 win over Sporting Gijon with a Joan Capdevila free kick securing the win.
Sevilla cemented their third position with a late 1-0 win over Champions League rivals Atletico Madrid.
(Agencies via China Daily Feburary 23, 2009)
