MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster enjoyed a successful return to former club Getafe on Sunday with a Sergio Ramos goal seeing the champions reclaim top spot in the Spanish first division with a 1-0 win over their local neighbours.

Incredibly Getafe, who Schuster left in the summer to join Real, had never lost at home in the league to Real but Ramos's goal on 65 minutes ended that run as Real moved a point clear of Villarreal at the summit.

Villarreal, trounced 5-0 by Real at the beginning of September, had briefly replaced Barcelona, now two points behind Real, at the top following a 1-0 triumph over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday which was their 13th league victory in their last 14 outings.

Dutch international winger Arjen Robben made his first league start in Real colours as Schuster changed his system to a 4-3-2-1 with Robinho operating on the other flank.

With Wednesday's Champions League match against Lazio in mind Ruud van Nistelrooy was rested with Raul playing as a lone striker.

Raul almost opened the scoring after 13 minutes but was denied by the post.

However Getafe were looking dangerous with Nigerian Ikechukwu Uche a handful for Italy's World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro.

Real's defence looked worrying shaky and that will give Lazio hope.

However Real seem capable of winning without playing well and on 65 minutes Spanish international Ramos accepted a Robben pass to score the winner.

Villarreal went top of the table for the first time in their history in midweek and continued their purple patch with Argentine defender Fabricio Fuentes scoring a rare goal just after the hour mark to sink Bilbao.

"The important thing is to make winning a habit," said Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini.

"We have started the league well and I hope we can take that into the UEFA Cup too."

Villarreal have now taken 39 points from a possible 42 with the 5-0 defeat by Real the only blot on their record.

Elsewhere Atletico Madrid notched their third straight win with a 2-0 victory against Osasuna to stay four points behind Villarreal.

Old boy Raul Garcia returned to haunt the club he left in the summer scoring the opener after 37 minutes and Sergio Aguero scored his fifth goal of the campaign late on to wrap-up the points.

The win was a landmark for Atletico's Mexican coach Javier Aguirre who had never before won three league games in a row.

Later on Sunday Valencia, four points behind Real in fourth, travel to Recreativo Huelva targeting a fifth straight win as they look to build confidence for Wednesday's Champions League tussle with Chelsea.







Spanish league standings after Sunday's first evening match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):







Real Madrid

6

5

1

0

14

3

16





Villarreal

6

5

0

1

9

5

15





Barcelona

6

4

2

0

13

4

14





Valencia

5

4

0

1

8

7

12





Atletico Madrid

6

3

2

1

11

4

11





Espanyol

6

3

1

2

8

7

10





Real Mallorca

6

2

2

2

9

8

8





Murcia

6

2

2

2

7

6

8





Recreativo Huelva

5

2

2

1

7

7

8





Real Zaragoza

6

2

2

2

8

9

8





Racing Santander

6

2

2

2

3

7

8





Almeria

6

2

1

3

7

7

7





Sevilla

5

2

0

3

11

9

6





Osasuna

5

1

2

2

5

5

5





Real Betis

6

1

2

3

7

8

5





Athletic Bilbao

6

1

2

3

4

8

5





Valladolid

6

1

2

3

8

13

5





Deportivo La Coruna

6

1

2

3

3

8

5





Getafe

6

0

2

4

3

9

2





Levante

6

0

1

5

3

14

1