New Delhi: Real Madrid did enough to ensure that they remain within six points of league leaders Barcelona by defeating Real Valladolid in the Bernabeu on Sunday.
Real Madrid did enough to ensure that they remain within six points of league leaders Barcelona by defeating Real Valladolid in the Bernabeu on Sunday.
Goals in either half from Raul and Arjen Robben were the highlights of a game that contained very few moments to raise a crowd that were hoping to be entertained.
Juande Ramos and his players will point to the fact that it was a professional job and three points were the most important thing, but his side spent long periods going through the motions.
Gonzalo Higuain looked like he wanted to be part of a more forward-thinking side, while Robben was willing to run throughout and Lassana Diarra was effective in midfield.
Real Valladolid were able to move the ball around well with a short passing game, but they rarely opened up Madrid despite Goitom's tiresless running up front.
Madrid under Ramos have chalked up an incredible run of 15 matches without defeat and with only one draw in that sequence they have kept up the pressure on the Blaugrana at the top of the table.
But against Valladolid there was a lack of urgency that could have cost them and that will have to be addressed if the current coach wants to keep his position in the summer.
Florentino Perez is reported to be planning to build a team full of stars and to play attractive football, but Ramos will have to convince the would-be supremo that he can also employ attacking tactics.
The opening five minutes saw the game sway from side to side before Sneijder took aim with a soft shot, while the lively Nestor Canobbioo registered the visitors first effort in the 17th minute.
It was not that the host team were playing badly, but that they lacked the incisveness that would have lifted the crowd who had made the effort to turn out in the middle of their Easter holidays.
Robben went close at one end before Casillas saved Pepe's blushes at the other as the defender met the ball with his head on the goal line and almost nudged it in.
As half time approached, Goitom was being contained and Valladolid kept at bay which allowed Madrid to show what they can do as Higuain found space to push into the box and force Asenjo into a good save.
A minute before the interval the breakthrough arrived as Higuain impressed yet again as he powered his way past two defenders on the right and sent over a low cross which allowed Raul to register a trademark finish from close range.
The chances continued to flow after the restart but still the visitors looked unlikely to find a leveller while they lacked confidence when facing Casillas.
Higuain and Sneijder were unable to add to the home side's tally and Ramos recognised that things needed to be changed midway through the half and his substitutions gave Madrid a fresh impetus.
Guti was introduced along with Fernando Gago and the switch gave Madrid an added dimension, but they still had to be watchful at the back as Escudero tested the keeper.
Robben then nodded just wide before Valladolid had their best chance of hte game when Pedro Lopez's deep cross dropped behind Pepe where Victor connected with his head but headed off target.
Real Madrid wrapped up the points in the 82nd minute however after a quick break saw them race from one end to another and Robben was able to control the ball and roll it inside Asenjo and the near post.
That was the blow that meant the away team were heading back home with nothing and it could have been worse but for Rafael van der Vaart's poor finish after he was presented with an open goal.
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