Gonzalo Higuain's 13th goal of the season helped Real Madrid beat Racing Santander 1-0 and notch its seventh straight Spanish league victory. Higuain raced onto Raul Gonzalez's glancing headed pass in the 49th minute, cut the ball back to evade a desperate lunge by Santander defender Cesar Navas and sidefooted an angled shot past goalkeeper Tono Rodriguez. The victory moved the defending champion to nine points behind Barcelona, although the leader has the chance to restore its 12-point advantage if it beats Sporting Gijon on Sunday for its 10th straight win. Barcelona has 56 points, while Madrid has 47. Attention was focused on Madrid captain Raul during the game at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. However, the former Spain striker failed to score the goal he needed to take his career tally to 308 and become the powerhouse's all-time top scorer ahead of legendary forward Alfredo Di Stefano. Meanwhile, Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas was playing his 454th official match, equaling the club record set by Paco Buyo in the 1980s and 90s. In the late game, third-placed Sevilla fell nine points behind Real following a painful 2-1 derby defeat to Real Betis which puts more pressure on coach Manolo Jimenez. Inter wins, Milan draws Inter Milan stretched its Serie A lead to eight points after the champion won 3-0 at Lecce and AC Milan could only draw 1-1 at home to bottom side Reggina on Saturday. Davide di Gennaro fired Reggina ahead on 33 minutes from Bernardo Corradi's assist but second-placed Milan equalized through Kaka's 67th-minute penalty after Alexandre Pato was fouled. Kaka also hit the post and substitute Clarence Seedorf had a goal ruled out when he used his hand to net the rebound. Inter was ahead on 12 minutes when Swedish talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic slammed his 14th league goal of the campaign after the busy Esteban Cambiasso laid the ball off having pretended to shoot. Luis Figo, 36, headed in a cross from teenage left back Davide Santon in the 71st minute. Figo had not scored a league goal since a 3-0 win over Sampdoria in Sept. 2007. Dejan Stankovic nodded in Maicon's free kick late on having again been a driving force for Inter, who operated with the Serbian and Figo behind lone front man Ibrahimovic. The champion nervously drew 1-1 at home to Torino last weekend and coach Jose Mourinho was impressed with the response. Third-placed Juventus, 10 points adrift of Inter and two behind Milan, visit Catania on Sunday.
