Higuain snatches late win for Real Madrid

Real Madrid climbed back above arch rivals Barcelona to the top of La Liga when Gonzalo Higuain netted a late winner in a laboured 1-0 win at Sporting Gijon on Sunday.

Champions Barca had gone two clear with a Lionel Messi-inspired 3-1 home win over third-placed Villarreal on Saturday and Jose Mourinho's unbeaten Real side struggled to find a goal against a determined Gijon, whose goalkeeper Juan Pablo was on inspired form.

The match at a hostile Molinon had taken on added significance for the Asturian club after Mourinho suggested they had fielded a weakened side at Barca earlier this season because they did not seriously believe they could win.

The combative Portuguese had to watch the match from the stands after being sent off in Wednesday's King's Cup win over Real Murcia and banned from the bench for two matches.

Real's Argentina forward Higuain came close to finding the net in the 10th minute when his angled shot hit a post.

Pablo produced three superb saves in the second half to deny Angel Di Maria, Higuain and substitute Karim Benzema but it was his handling error that led to Real's goal in the 82nd minute.

He blocked a headed Benzema effort but palmed the ball straight to Higuain who gleefully tapped the ball over the line from close range.

Gijon nearly equalised a minute later but Real keeper and captain Iker Casillas flung himself full length to keep out a powerful downward header from David Barral.

It was Real's sixth straight league win and puts them on 29 points from 11 matches. Barca, who host Real for the first of the season's two 'Clasicos' on November 29, have 28 and Villarreal are on 23.

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Tension had mounted between Real and Gijon in the build-up to the match following Mourinho's comments.

Gijon coach Manuel Preciado, whose side lost 1-0 to Barca at the Nou Camp in September, was furious at what he described as a lack of respect and slammed the Portuguese at a news conference.

Real released a statement saying they regretted Preciado's comments and cancelled a news conference that Mourinho's assistant, Aitor Karanka, was due to have given on Saturday.

"It was a tough game, especially considering all that had been said this week," Casillas said in a television interview.

"I respect others' opinions but I don't share them and I defend my coach, who is the best," he added.

Preciado earned backing for his stand from La Liga coaches, including Espanyol's Mauricio Pochettino and Villarreal's Juan Carlos Garrido, and said he was "super proud" of what he said about Mourinho.

"Maybe not of the way I said it because I am very crude but the basic message yes," he told a news conference. "I would do the same thing again."

BRILLIANT MOMENT

Earlier, Alvaro Negredo came off the bench to score a last-gasp winner as Sevilla survived the dismissal of Fernando Navarro to snatch a 2-1 victory at struggling Real Zaragoza.

Negredo's Brazilian strike partner Luis Fabiano fired the Andalusians ahead in the 29th minute before Nico Bertolo nodded the home side level just after halftime.

Defender Navarro was shown a straight red in the 72nd minute after hauling down Braulio when he was through on goal but it was the visitors who claimed the three points thanks to a moment of brilliance from Negredo in the 90th minute.

The burly striker stole the ball from Jiri Jarosik, sped clear on the left and drove a precise low shot into the far corner.

Sevilla climb to fifth on 20 points while Zaragoza are bottom with just seven.

Valencia also have 20 in fourth and are ahead of Sevilla on goal difference after Tino Costa's superb volley and a goal from captain David Navarro gave them a 2-0 win at home to Getafe.