Spain round-up: Raúl rescues Madrid

A fine first-time strike from Raúl González earned Real Madrid CF a valuable 1-1 draw at Real Betis Balompié in a reconvened Spanish Primera División match tonight.

Floodlight failure
The game at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera stadium on 14 September was called off after a floodlight failure in the 43rd minute, with Betis leading 1-0 after a goal from midfield player Capi.

Climbed to third
Madrid found the only goal of tonight's encounter to earn a point which lifted them into third place in the table after Spanish international striker Raúl - who later limped off with a suspected groin injury - latched on to a Roberto Carlos cross that bobbled free in the area six minutes into the second half.

Ronaldo chance
Raúl's new Brazilian team-mate, Ronaldo, who scored twice on his debut for the European champions on Sunday against Deportivo Alavés, was in the starting lineup but missed his one clear scoring chance in a match played at a breathless pace throughout.

Unrelenting pressure
Betis submitted Madrid to almost unrelenting pressure following Raúl's equaliser but were unable to work their way past a determined defence marshalled by the impressive Fernando Hierro. RC Celta de Vigo, with 13 points, lead the way on goal difference from Real Sociedad and Madrid, who have eleven points from five matches.