UPDATE 3-Soccer-Real put seven past Valladolid to go eight clear

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By Mark Elkington

MADRID, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Real Madrid crushed Valladolid 7-0 at the Bernabeu to extend their lead at the top of the Primera Liga to eight points on Sunday.

The visitors took the game to Real early on but went in at the break 5-0 behind, as Raul (twice), Julio Baptista, Arjen Robben and Guti punished their overly ambitious approach.

Guti and Royston Drenthe completed the rout after the interval while Iker Casillas pulled off a top-class save to deny Valladolid a consolation goal near the end.

"Valladolid are a team that like to push up and pressure you," said Real coach Bernd Schuster. "Nearly all our goals came from balls put behind their defence. It's surprising a team plays like that here, but it worked in our favour."

The champions, who lost 2-0 to promoted Almeria last weekend, pulled away from second-placed Barcelona, who could only draw 1-1 away to Sevilla on Saturday.

Earlier, Uruguay striker Diego Forlan scored twice to earn Atletico Madrid a 2-0 win away to Racing Santander, that put them fourth with 41 points, one behind Villarreal who edged Real Murcia 1-0 on Saturday.

His first was a low shot from the edge of the area soon after the break, and the second a stunning long-range effort that made sure of a first win in four for the visitors.