Real Madrid continued their fine start to the Primera Division season with a steady if unspectacular 1-0 home win over Racing Santander.
Gonzalo Higuain scored the only goal of the game in the 22nd minute as Madrid made it 28 points from a possible 33 from their 11 games so far.
It was not the most convincing of performances by Madrid, but the three points will be what concerns coach Manuel Pellegrini most ahead of an important week that sees them play FC Zurich in the Champions League and then travel to the Nou Camp to face Barca next weekend.