The Real Madrid on Sunday stood firm in their fight for the Spanish league title by beating local 3-1 at Racing Santander with a double from Karim Benzema French and both Emmanuel Adebayor.
The meringues added 67 points to go to seven behind leaders Barcelona and added eight points from a possible 15 in their last five road games. Barca beat Real Zaragoza 1-0 on Saturday.
Valencia is third with 54 points after beating Real Mallorca 2-1 on Saturday. Villarreal follows him to four points after losing 3-1 in their day visit to Atletico Madrid.
In Santander, Real Madrid played a first half of total dominance in the precise moves that put together the first touch. Midfielder Xabi Alonso combined with Mesut Oezil for the German gunners distribute balls to Benzema and Adebayor.
Real did not notice the absence of top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who shares the lead with Argentine strikers Lionel Messi with 27 goals and will be sidelined for ten days after suffering a hamstring injury in his left leg.
Adebayor finished off only 23 minutes to advance to Madrid after a pass at center Oezil area. At 27, Benzema received another pass from German to enlarge.
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas interrupted at 51 Pablo Pinillos a penalty that made it easy.
Kennedy Barkicioglu discounted at 70 minutes with a low shot, but five minutes later Benzema distance to Madrid again to convert the third. The French and has seven goals in the league.
Adebayor was able to turn a double, but goalkeeper Antonio "Toño" Rodriguez saved a penalty.
The meringues broke the winning streak to six games Racing.
Madrid coach, Portuguese Jose Mourinho said after the meeting to be unconcerned about the fate of the pointer.
"I do not expect to click on Barcelona," he said. "I play my league and play my game."
The controversial Portuguese also appeared to complain of an alleged black hand behind the advantage of Pep Guardiola.
"... The Barcelona win when you do well but when faced with difficulties, because things happen in those games," he said. "We have to play well to win, they do not. It happened in Valencia, where they could lose, and went against Zaragoza, who were able to stay many minutes with one less."
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