Santi Cazorla hammered a superb last-minute freekick into the top corner to earn Malaga a surprise 1-1 draw at leader Real Madrid in La Liga Sunday. Real moved on to 71 points with 11 matches left to play but after 11 straight victories saw its lead cut to eight points, champion Barcelona having beaten Sevilla 2-0 away Saturday. Karim Benzema had headed Real in front after 35 minutes but the visitors refused to crumble under intense pressure and Spain international Cazorla grabbed a deserved equalizer in time added on. Big-spending Malaga was fifth with 41 points. “We wanted to stay in the game and with only one goal against us anything was possible,” Cazorla told Spanish television. “I'd already gone close in the first half but at the end there it went in. A victory was vital for our objectives.” Real came out wearing shirts in support of Barcelona's Eric Abidal, who is set to have a liver transplant, and Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba, who collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest during a game in England Saturday. Malaga matched the host in a high-tempo opening until France striker Benzema arrived unmarked at the back post to nod in Cristiano Ronaldo's cross. Jose Mourinho's men created a host of chances, La Liga top scorer Ronaldo being denied by a flying save from Willy Caballero and Benzema blazing wide from six meters out. Cazorla was brought down on the edge of the area by Esteban Granero in the 92nd minute and the former Villarreal player left Iker Casillas with no chance. Earlier, striker Roberto Soldado scored a hat trick as Valencia ran out 3-0 winner at Europa League rival Athletic Bilbao to strengthen its hold on third place. Valencia moved on to 47 points, six ahead of fourth-placed Levante, beat Villarreal 1-0. Bilbao was seventh with 37 points, one ahead of Atletico Madrid in ninth. Ten-man Real Mallorca overcame Atletico 2-1 at home. Udinese, Napoli miss chance Udinese and Napoli missed the chance to move into the Champions League qualifying positions following a 2-2 draw in Udine Sunday. Lazio's earlier 1-0 defeat at Catania meant that if either side had won, it would have gone third but instead the draw leaves them both a point behind the Romans. Udinese will be ruing a missed opportunity having led 2-0 through goals from Giampiero Pinzi and Antonio Di Natale. Catania moved level on points with Inter Milan and Roma and is now securely in the battle for a European finish. Inter's hopes of playing in Europe next season took another hit following its 0-0 draw at home to Atalanta.
