UPDATE 2-Soccer-Barcelona close as Real slip up at Betis

(Recasts after late match)

By Simon Baskett

MADRID, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Barcelona closed to within five points of Real Madrid at the top of the Primera Liga on Saturday when they claimed a controversial 2-1 win at Real Zaragoza and Real Madrid slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Real Betis.

Barcelona snatched only their fourth away victory of the season when substitute Ronaldinho fired home from the penalty spot seven minutes from time after Zaragoza defender Juanfran was adjudged to have handled the ball as he cleared from the area.

Real Madrid started strongly against struggling Betis, midfielder Royston Drenthe putting them ahead on six minutes when he angled a shot in at the far post after fellow Dutchman Arjen Robben cut the ball across the area.

But Betis turned the tables on the leaders with two quickfire goals in four minutes.

Brazilian forward Edu grabbed the first when he got in between defenders Marcelo and Sergio Ramos to power in a header at the far post after a cross by Mariano Pavone.

Winger Mark Gonzalez scored a carbon copy second when he nodded in at the far post, outjumping Ramos and Marcelo after Edu had turned fullback Michel Salgado inside out and whipped the ball in from the left.

The win earned Betis their first points in three games and lifted them four clear of the drop zone.