Real close gap on Barca with 10th straight win

MADRID: Real Madrid registered their 10th league victory in a row to reduce Barcelona's lead at the top of the Primera Liga to four points on Saturday, Guti and Raul scoring for the visitors in a 2-0 victory over Espanyol.

The champions had looked short of ideas for more than an hour in Barcelona before midfielder Guti came off the bench to score a superb free kick in the 70th minute and striker Raul sealed the win two minutes later.

Barca, who were beaten 2-1 at home by city rivals Espanyol last weekend, were in a position to restore their seven-point advantage with victory at Atletico Madrid on Sunday.