Van Nistelrooy Sees Madrid Edge Bernabéu Goalfest

Real Madrid 4 - 3 Real Mallorca

Ruud van Nistelrooy gave Real Madrid victory as he netted the decisive goal in a goalfest in the Bernabéu on Sunday evening. Dani Güiza and Raúl scored after the break to add to two goals apiece from Robinho and Fernando Varela in the first half.

zoom - galleria The Dutchman netted to ensure that Bernd Schuster's side maintained their 100 per cent record at home this term and stayed to of the league for the next two weeks.

Mallorca gave as good as they received and looked good to snatch a share of the spoils, until the home side had a brief spell when they stepped up the pressure and made it count.

After a bright start by the visitors, Madrid broke the deadlock after just 12 minutes and with one of their few flowing movements of a scrappy first half.

Gago drifted a high ball out to the wing for Robinho who edged towards the area before back-heeling it to Marcelo. The full-back clipped it into the box and Robinho had continued his run and leapt to meet the cross and nod the ball in the far corner.

With hardly any time to settle down, Madrid found themselves back to square one as Mallorca drew level in the 14th minute of the encounter.

Incredible scenes as Mallorca equalise within just two minutes. Ibagaza lifted a long ball forward and Marcelo failed to cut it out leaving Fernando Varela to take one touch to steer around Iker Casillas and a second to squeeze it inside the near post.

Within five minutes the home team had regained the lead, but this time there was controversy surrounding the goal.

Wesley Sneijder forced the ball forward and Raúl's flick on found Robinho, who was clearly offside, and the Brazilian tucked in his second of the evening from 12 yards out.

A minute later, José Carlos Nunes was left completely unmarked to meet a corner from the right, but the Portuguese defender volleyed his shot against the crossbar from close range.

The goals gave the game some respectability and an air of real excitement, but passes were still going astray from both teams and Madrid looked very uncomfortable as they were crowded out in midfield.

It was scrappy at both ends and it was going to take something special to produce another goal, but that is exactly what Mallorca produced eight minutes before the break.

After turning away from Marcelo, Varela took aim from 25 yards and belted his shot into the top corner Casillas' net as the keeper remained stationary.

It was a stunning strike that even the scorer looked like he was surprised that it had happened.

In the closing minutes, Madrid raised themselves and finally enjoyed a spell of pressure that saw Raúl connected with two centres from Sneijder but on both occasions the Merengues' captain headed off target.

Schuster evidently let his side know what he thought of their first half performance, as the home team looked sharper and more incisive at the start of the second period.

Van Nistelrooy broke down the left side of the area four minutes in and sent a low centre across the face of goal which found its way to Sneijder, but the midfielder steered his shot past the post from close range.

Mallorca began to pull themselves back into the game, but it was a defensive error that allowed them to snatch the lead after 59 minutes.

Juan Arango forced his way to the edge of the area, before Mahamadou Diarra poked the ball behind the Madrid defence and Dani Güiza accepted the gift by firing past Casillas from 12 yards out.

It was not what the home fans had expected, but they did not have to wait long for their team to draw themselves level as Robinho caused more problems down the left.

The Brazilian sped down the side of the area before rolling the ball to the near post where Raúl was unmarked to tap in from close range.

Madrid were looking stronger, but they still had to be careful at the other end as Varela forced Casillas to make a save, before Sneijder took aim and shot over.

With 19 minutes remaining Mallorca made their first real defensive mistake as their central defenders left a huge gap for Van Nistelrooy to run into and the Dutchman took advantage.

After receiving the ball from Raúl the striker surged forward before firing his shot into the far corner of Germán Lux's net.

Robinho could have put the result beyond doubt after jinking into the area, but he shot over from an angle and turned away holding his head in his hands.

The home side sat back in the closing minutes and only looked to test their guests on the break, while Mallorca were unable to find a way through to earn a dramatic equaliser