Real Madrid maintained their unbeaten record and returned to the top of La Liga after beating Real Betis 2-0 on Thursday.

The reigning Spanish champions' captain Raul Gonzalez [Images] finally broke the deadlock from the penalty spot after 66 minutes following a foul on him by Betis midfielder David Rivas.

Brazilian international Julio Baptista then got Real's second goal five minutes from time but the scoreline flattered the reigning Spanish champions with lowly Betis hitting the woodwork no less than three times during the game.

Real Madrid have 13 points from five matches, a one point lead over Villarreal and Valencia, who are second and third respectively and split by goal difference after both teams won on Wednesday.

By contrast, at the other end of the table, Betis are third from bottom and still looking for their first win this season with only two points to their name.

Villarreal had an impressive 2-0 win at Racing Santander with goals from Turkish international Nihat Kahveci and their American-born Italian striker Guiseppe Rossi.

Valencia laboured to a 2-1 win over struggling Getafe but notched up their fourth successive win with first half goals from Spanish internationals David Silva and David Villa before Braulio Nobrega got one back for Getafe late in the game.

Unbeaten Barcelona are one point further back in fourth after inflicting a 4-1 thrashing on Real Zaragoza later on Wednesday.

All the goals in Barca's Nou Camp stadium came in the first half, with their Argentine international winger Lionel Messi [Images] finding the net after just five minutes although Zaragoza's Alberto Zapater equalised four minutes later.

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