DHAKA: An unconvincing Real Madrid needed a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty deep into stoppage time to snatch a 2-1 win at promoted Elche on Wednesday that kept them hard on the heels of the La Liga pace-setters Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.

The Portugal forward smashed home a free kick to put Real ahead in the 51st minute against an Elche side before the substitute Richmond Boakye looked to have secured a point when he headed past Diego López in the 91st minute.

There was more drama to come, however, as Real won a corner and the referee pointed to the penalty spot after Pepe tangled with the midfielder Carlos Sanchez in the area.

As the match ticked into its 94th minute, Ronaldo calmly struck the ball into the corner for his sixth goal in six matches this term.

The champions Barçca, who beat Real Sociedad 4-1 on Tuesday, and Atletico, 2-1 winners at home to Osasuna, lead on 18 points with Real in second on 16.

Valencia`s troubled start to the season continued when they again played poorly and had to rely on a scuffed Jonas effort in the fourth minute of added time to secure a 1-0 win at Granada on Wednesday.

Valencia`s preparations for the match in Andalucia were disrupted after their France defender Adil Rami criticised the coach Miroslav Djukic in a radio interview, labelled his team-mates "sycophants" and was sent home.

Djukic`s players turned in an error-strewn performance against a Granada side that flirted with relegation last season, barely mustering a shot on target until substitute Sergio Canales sprinted clear on the left and crossed for Jonas to bundle the ball into the net.

The unconvincing victory lifted Valencia to seventh on nine points from six matches and will do little to ease the pressure on Serb Djukic, a former Valencia player who took over from Ernesto Valverde at the end of last season.

Sevilla secured their first win of the campaign with a 4-1 success at home to Rayo Vallecano, who had two players sent off at the Sánchez Pizjuan.

Unai Emery, a former Valencia coach now with the Andalusian side, has also been under pressure after Sevilla recorded three defeats and two draws in their opening five matches.

Ivan Rakitic and Carlos Bacca both scored twice to help lift Emery`s team off the bottom of the table.

Source: The Guardian
BDST: 0912 HRS, Sep 26, 2013
RS/BSK