Real Madrid 2 Gimnastic Tarragona 0

Madrid overcame a poor first-half display to take the points thanks to goals from Robinho and Nastic defender David Garcia - who put through his own net - in the second period.

Much of the build-up to the game had seen Madrid trying to rally their supporters ahead of the final stretch in the Primera Liga, with the title still within their sights despite four successive draws.

But the home side left the pitch to deafening jeers and whistles at half-time following a dismal opening period.

Madrid looked to have been handed the perfect start when Nastic were reduced to 10 men after just five minutes with Cesar Navas being dismissed.

Navas was shown his marching orders for bringing down Ruud van Nistelrooy after the Dutchman had broken through on goal.

The incident happened right on the edge of the area, and although the Bernabeu screamed in unison for a penalty, referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzale awarded a free-kick.

That was duly wasted by Madrid though, and was a pre-cursor for a lacklustre first-half display which saw visiting goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri barely have a save to make.

In fact, the closest either side came to a goal in the opening period was the 10 men of Nastic in the 12th minute.

A quick free-kick saw Antonio Pinilla break into the right side of the Madrid area totally unmarked before driving a cross-shot into a crowded penalty area.

The ball took a slight deflection of Miguel Torres on its way through and Iker Casillas needed to produce a superb reaction stop to keep his side from going a goal down.

Unsurprisingly Madrid coach Fabio Capello made a change at the break, bringing on Robinho for Antonio Cassano, and the result was a much improved display from the hosts.

Raul had the first chance of the second half after 52 minutes when he broke through inside the box, but Bizzarri spread himself well and was able to block the Madrid captain's low shot.

The home side's next attack resulted in the game's opening goal, with substitute Robinho the man on the scoresheet.

Van Nistelrooy looked to have wasted the chance when he screwed his effort across goal, but Robinho stole in at the far post to ram a shot into the roof of the net.

The Brazilian almost made it 2-0 just moments later but his rasping 25-yard effort cannoned back off the post with Bizzarri well beaten.

Robinho was looking eager to impress and he tried his luck with another long-range effort in the 61st minute that Bizzarri parried away, with Gonzalo Higuain firing the loose ball into the side-netting from seven yards.

Guti then fired wide from the edge of the box as Madrid continued to waste chances.

The home side should have been made to pay for their profligacy in the 70th minute when Ruben Castro missed a great chance for second-bottom Nastic, firing wide from 16 yards out.

Higuain spurned another chance with 15 minutes to go after going through one-on-one with Bizzarri, but Madrid finally earned themselves some breathing space with a second goal in the 80th minute.

Michel Salgado got to the byline before dinking in a cross that was turned into his own net by Garcia, under pressure from Raul.

Raul and Marcelo both tested Bizzarri in the closing stages as Madrid saw out the victory that keeps them five points behind leaders Barcelona.