Rejuvenated Real dream of title

SPAIN – Real Madrid are convinced they can win their remaining four league matches and snatch the title from the grasp of arch-rivals Barcelona after their epic 4-3 comeback victory at home to Espanyol on Saturday.

“This victory allows us to dream about winning the title and we are in a position to do it,” club captain Raul told reporters after the game. “We showed plenty of spirit and guts and that is what we need if we are going to keep on winning.”Performances like this make you really proud to play for this club.We are certainly capable of winning our remaining four games.”Real fell behind 2-0 and then 3-1 in the first half against the Uefa Cup finalists, but for the second week running they staged a dramatic second-half comeback and grabbed a vital win thanks to an 89th-minute strike from Gonzalo Higuain.The Argentine, who has scored just once since joining Real for 13 million euros ($17.52 million) from River Plate in January, was ecstatic after notching up his first goal in front of his home fans.”I haven’t got the words to describe it.It was incredible,” he said.”It is the most important goal of my career.I don’t know how it went in, but it was a very special moment.I wasn’t obsessed with scoring, but this goal has taken a weight off my shoulders.”The win put Real a point clear of Barcelona at the top of the table, the first time they have headed the Primera Liga standings since September.”All season I’ve been looking at the table and Barcelona have been ahead of us, but this time they aren’t,” said coach Fabio Capello.The Italian explained that a combination of improved team spirit, luck and hard work was the secret to the revival in form that has seen his side win seven of their last eight matches.”You can make all the changes you want as a coach, but without spirit and fight they mean nothing,” he said.”Luck is an important component, but if you don’t work hard you don’t win.This isn’t like a casino, although it’s true that sometimes the ball hits the post and goes in and other times it doesn’t and this time it went in.”We really believe we can win the rest of our games and we’ll be approaching each one like a final.”Barcelona, who are still licking their wounds after a 4-0 mauling at the hands of Getafe in the Cup in midweek, can regain top spot on Sunday if they beat struggling Real Betis at the Nou Camp.Supersoccer”We showed plenty of spirit and guts and that is what we need if we are going to keep on winning.”Performances like this make you really proud to play for this club.We are certainly capable of winning our remaining four games.”Real fell behind 2-0 and then 3-1 in the first half against the Uefa Cup finalists, but for the second week running they staged a dramatic second-half comeback and grabbed a vital win thanks to an 89th-minute strike from Gonzalo Higuain.The Argentine, who has scored just once since joining Real for 13 million euros ($17.52 million) from River Plate in January, was ecstatic after notching up his first goal in front of his home fans.”I haven’t got the words to describe it.It was incredible,” he said.”It is the most important goal of my career.I don’t know how it went in, but it was a very special moment.I wasn’t obsessed with scoring, but this goal has taken a weight off my shoulders.”The win put Real a point clear of Barcelona at the top of the table, the first time they have headed the Primera Liga standings since September.”All season I’ve been looking at the table and Barcelona have been ahead of us, but this time they aren’t,” said coach Fabio Capello.The Italian explained that a combination of improved team spirit, luck and hard work was the secret to the revival in form that has seen his side win seven of their last eight matches.”You can make all the changes you want as a coach, but without spirit and fight they mean nothing,” he said.”Luck is an important component, but if you don’t work hard you don’t win.This isn’t like a casino, although it’s true that sometimes the ball hits the post and goes in and other times it doesn’t and this time it went in.”We really believe we can win the rest of our games and we’ll be approaching each one like a final.”Barcelona, who are still licking their wounds after a 4-0 mauling at the hands of Getafe in the Cup in midweek, can regain top spot on Sunday if they beat struggling Real Betis at the Nou Camp.Supersoccer