Di Maria rescues Real Madrid

Argentine international winger Angel di Maria scored a vital 77th minute winner as 10-man Real Madrid defeated Sevilla 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday to close to within two points of league leaders Barcelona ahead of the Christmas break.

The 22-year-old di Maria, a 25-million-euro summer signing from Benfica, squeezed a shot past Andres Palop at the near post to maintain Real's 100 percent home record and ensure Jose Mourinho's side begin 2011 within touching distance of Barcelona.

Real had been reduced to ten men on 63 minutes with the sending-off of Portuguese centre-back Ricardo Carvalho, but the hosts overcame their numerical disadvantage to triumph through di Maria's goal.

"It was a beautiful goal and the most important thing is it won the match," said di Maria. "It was a difficult game and it became even more complicated with the sending-off. "We did everything we could and managed to secure a great victory." Sevilla had sensed victory after the dismissal but fell to their fifth successive league defeat and lie down in 11th place eight points off the top four.

Barcelona were much more comfortable crushing Espanyol 5-1 in the Catalan derby at the Cornella-El Prat stadium on Saturday for a tenth successive league win and the double champions top the table at Christmas.

Real were without suspended duo Marcelo and Xabi Alonso but were boosted by the return of Sergio Ramos against the team that launched his career.

In the absence of the injured Gonzalo Higuain, French forward Karim Benzema was given a chance to make an impact on the day of his 23rd birthday, while Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo had a point to prove against old club Real.

AFP