Real Madrid Leads La Liga

Real Madrid took advantage of Valencia's defeat in Barcelona to take the provisional lead in the Spanish league after thrashing at home to Malaga on a day in which the Sporting de Gijón sprung a surprise by beating Sevilla in El Molinón.

The leadership of Madrid, with 17 points, there remains the game that Villarreal, 15, will play on Monday, at the home of Hercules, at the close of the seventh round of the championship.

In a fast-paced match, Real Madrid thrashed Malaga 1-4, pushed by the German fantasy Mesut Ozil and scoring ability of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain, who signed two goals each to certify the fourth home defeat of premises in as many games.

"The whole match was very tactically and mentally," said Real Madrid coach, Portuguese Jose Mourinho, whose team is the most goals (16) and the least shake (3), of the League.

Malaga created danger only in the rapid counter-starring Quincy Owusu Dutch and Venezuelan José Rondón.

With his two goals, the second a penalty, Cristiano Ronaldo heads the scoring chart in the league, with six, one ahead of Brazilian Nilmar, of Villarreal. The "Pipita" Higuain has four. The Barcelona, with Xavi at the helm and goals from Andrés Iniesta and Carles Puyol.