First-half strikes from Raul and Ruud van Nistelrooy and another brilliant display from goalkeeper Iker Casillas earned Real Madrid a 2-0 win away to city rivals Atletico Madrid yesterday.

Real captain Raul lived up to his reputation as Atletico's bogey player when he scored his 11th goal against them in city derbies, steering in at the near post with just over 30 seconds on the clock.

Atletico responded well and had a host of scoring opportunities in the first half, but they were unable to find a way past an inspired Casillas in the Real goal.

In contrast, Real striker Van Nistelrooy took advantage of practically his first chance of the match to score his 12th of the season when he clipped home from a corner two minutes from the break.

Real's seventh league win in a row kept them seven points clear of Barcelona who claimed a flattering 1-0 win over a well organised Racing Santander at the Nou Camp last night. Thierry Henry scored the winner with an opportunist header in the first half.

Villarreal are in third spot, five behind Barca, after their 3-0 win over Valencia, while Atletico are a further point back in fourth.

Earlier, Valladolid striker Joseba Llorente scored the fastest goal in Primera Liga history when he put his side in front in their 2-1 win over Espanyol with just seven seconds on the clock.

Llorente, who had notched up four goals in the league and King's Cup in his side's last two games, also scored his side's second 11 minutes before half-time.

Meanwhile, a third defeat in a row for relegation-threatened Deportivo Coruna - who lost 1-0 at Almeria - heaped further pressure on coach Miguel Angel Lotina.