Raúl González was the toast of Real Madrid CF again as his 73rd-minute penalty completed their 2-1 comeback win against RCD Espanyol and sent Bernd Schuster's side eight points clear in the Primera División.

Madrid were hoping to make a statement of intent with their nearest rivals FC Barcelona not in action until their home match with third place Villarreal CF on Sunday evening and a UEFA Champions League exit at the hands of AS Roma to erase from their memories. But Espanyol increased the anxiety at the Santiago Bernabéu by taking the lead on the half-hour mark when a neat short-corner routine culminated with former Madrid striker Naldo planting a header past Iker Casillas at the far post.

The hosts looked for an immediate response and Julio Baptista's free-kick was repelled by a fantastic save from Carlos Kameni. However, the champions did level two minutes before the interval when Gonzalo Higuaín scrambled the ball over the line from close range from Marcelo's cross and when Daniel Jarque brought down Raúl, the Madrid captain calmly sent Kameni the wrong way from the penalty spot to secure the points in the second half.

Club Atlético de Madrid had the chance to move level on points with Villarreal with a victory at Real Zaragoza and appeared on their way to the result they desired when Simão curled a beautiful 20-metre shot in to give them a 26th-minute lead. But the advantage only lasted 12 minutes when a free-kick caused confusion in the Atlético area and Pablo Ibáñez turned the ball past his own goalkeeper under pressure from Juanfran. The defining moment of the game came 17 minutes from time when Simão fouled Sergio García and the ever-reliable Diego Milito stroked in the penalty to lift Zaragoza three points and five places above the relegation zone.