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Westwood ahead by two strokes at Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Lee Westwood had his second 6-under-par 66 of the tournament Saturday and has a 2-stroke lead after three rounds of the European PGA's Dubai World Championship.

Westwood posted a bogey-free round Saturday and is at 15-under 201. Ross McGowan matched Westwood's 66 to keep within sight of the lead at 13-under. Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy each shot 3-under 69 in the third round and are tied with Noren Alexander, who had a 67, for third place at 10-under.

The tournament championship, to be decided Sunday, is worth $1.2 million to the winner but the golfer who leads the European Tour's money list also receives a bonus of $1.5 million. Westwood and McIlroy are battling for that check.

McIlroy was 6-under Saturday going to No. 16 but he hit a shot to the edge of a water hazard and took a bogey 5 there. He followed that with a 3-putt bogey at 17 and found the water again at 18 and ended with a third consecutive bogey.

Westwood was 1-under after eight holes Saturday before running off three consecutive birdies. He added a birdie at No. 14 and capped the day with a birdie at the 18th hole.

McGowan has gone 46 holes without a bogey to stay in contention.

Johnson one of many stories at Homestead

HOMESTEAD, Fla., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Jimmie Johnson's drive to a fourth straight Sprint Cup points title will be one of numerous story lines at Sunday's Ford 400 auto race in Homestead, Fla.

Johnson, Friday's pole winner, needs only to finish at least 25th to win an unprecedented fourth straight points title.

I'm glad that we have this late-season push each year, especially with the (Race for the Chase, the season-ending battle for the points title) in play, Johnson said this week on his Web site.

Also, Matt Kenseth drives for DeWalt Power Tools for the last time; Jamie McMurray does the same for Roush Fenway Racing; 50-year-old Mark Martin becomes the oldest driver to finish in the Top 10; Michael Waltrip ends his last full-time season; and Rick Hendrick, for whom Johnson drives, will join Petty Enterprises with his ninth ownership championship when Johnson starts the race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Tebow leads Florida rout

GAINESVILLE, Fla., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Tim Tebow accounted for three touchdowns Saturday, guiding top-ranked Florida to a 62-3 non-SEC rout of Florida International.

The former Heisman Trophy winner ran for 102 yards, scoring on a 55-yard, first-quarter run. He also completed 17-of-25 passes for 215 yards with a 27-yard, second-quarter scoring pass to Chris Rainey and an 18-yard touchdown to Riley Cooper in the third.

Backup quarterback John Brantley tossed three touchdown passes.

Rainey had 61 yards receiving and 30 rushing, and Brandon Spikes scored on a 42-yard, first-quarter interception return for the unbeaten Gators (11-0), who face arch-rival Florida State next Saturday and are 11-0 for the second time in school history.

They face Alabama in the SEC title game and, with 21 straight victories, have the nation's longest winning streak.

Paul McCall threw for 134 yards with an interception, and Dustin Rivest kicked a field goal for the Golden Panthers (3-8), who split their final four games.

Ohio State clinches Rose Bowl bid

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Cameron Heyward's end zone fumble recovery Saturday started No. 8 Ohio State on its way to a 21-10 win over Michigan.

The victory was Ohio State's sixth straight in the Big Ten Conference series.

The touchdown

on a fumble by quarterback Tate Forcier came before the contest was 5 minutes old and was one of five Michigan turnovers.

Brandon Saine rushed for 84 yards on 12 carries with one touchdown.

Daniel Herron gained 96 yards on 19 carries and caught a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Terrelle Pryor, who threw for only 67 yards, but rushed for 74 yards on 19 carries for the Rose Bowl-bound Buckeyes (10-2, 7-1), who held only a 320-309 yardage advantage.

Forcier threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Smith, but also threw four interceptions, and Jason Olesnavage kicked a field goal for the Wolverines (5-7, 1-7), who endured their second straight losing season, with seven losses for the first time in school history.

Death toll in China mine disaster rises to 87: media

by Robert Saiget BEIJING (AFP) --

The death toll from a coal mine blast in northeast China rose to 87 on Sunday, with 21 miners still trapped, in the nation's deadliest mining disaster in two years, state media reported.

Rescuers have located the site where eight workers remain trapped in the mine shaft, but it is unclear if they are alive, the China News Service reported.

The explosion occurred at 2:30 am Saturday (1830 GMT Friday) at a mine near Hegang City in Heilongjiang province, according to a statement issued by the State Administration of Work Safety.

According to local news reports, the blast was felt as far away as 10 kilometres (six miles).

A total of 528 miners were working in the pit at the time, the state administration said.

"I was with a group of 10 miners (when we were told to evacuate), right now I don't know if they made it out," mining veteran Fu Maofeng, 48, told the East Asia Trade News from his hospital bed.

Miners near the shaft entrance were told to evacuate after gas levels in the mine rose sharply, he told the paper.

When he and two others reached the entrance to report the rising gas levels, a huge blast ripped through the main shaft, he said.

The toll has more than doubled from 42 dead and 66 trapped on Saturday.

It is the deadliest coal mining accident in the energy-hungry nation since an explosion killed 105 miners in Shanxi province in December 2007.

On Saturday, President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao issued orders to take all measures to rescue workers, while Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang was dispatched to the mine to oversee the operation, state media said.

The head of the mine, which is run by the Heilongjiang Longmay Mining Holding Group, and its chief engineer have been removed from their posts, the China News Service said.

The director of the work safety administration has been tasked with leading an investigation into the blast, it added.

According to the mining group's website, the mine produces 1.45 million tonnes of coal a year and in 2009 ranked 12th out of China's top 100 mining companies and seventh in terms of production volume.

China has a dismal work safety record, with thousands of people dying every year in mines, factories and on construction sites.

Its coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world, with safety standards often ignored in the quest for profits and the drive to meet surging demand for coal -- the source of about 70 percent of China's energy.

The central government has campaigned in recent years to modernise its collieries and control the leakage of gas, particularly methane, a pollutant responsible for several mine explosions.

Official figures show that more than 3,200 workers died in collieries last year, but independent labour groups say the actual figure could be much higher, as many accidents are covered up in order to avoid costly mine shutdowns.

Colts, Saints hope to continue magical NFL march

LOS ANGELES (AFP) --

The New England Patriots did it in 2007 with a magnificent 16-0 season so why not the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts in 2009?

The league's two remaining undefeated teams continue their march towards perfection Sunday after surviving their closest scares of the season last week.

The Colts and the Saints are both off to 9-0 starts and the Colts' win streak goes back even further as they put their 18-game regular season undefeated record on the line against the Baltimore Ravens at M and T Bank Stadium.

Indianapolis has won their past three games by a combined total of eight points and that includes a shocking fourth-quarter rally last Sunday to edge New England 35-34 and keep the win streak intact.

"I don't really get into what happened in games past," quarterback Peyton Manning said. "The key is just trying to execute, trying to protect the ball. You have to be kind of aggressive and patient together.

Miami got week 11 off to a rousing start Thursday as veteran Ricky Williams rushed for 119 yards and scored three touchdowns and the Dolphins beat the Carolina Panthers 24-17 for their fourth win in six games.

The Colts are looking to win their 19th-straight game which would be second-longest streak in NFL history behind New England which won 21 straight from 2006 to 2008.

The Ravens won't be pushovers having won two of their last three games. They started the season like the Colts (3-0) but then stumbled through three-straight losses.

Manning will look to his stellar young receiving corps to get the Colts into the end zone.

"Every practice, meeting and even a walk-through that we do, every one of them is a great learning experience for everybody, including me because you're trying to be sure you're on the same page with these young receivers," Manning said.

"For a number of years here we had such a veteran corps of receivers that you kind of knew before practice and after practice and into the game everybody was going to be on the same page. So you're constantly reviewing things and going over things with these young guys, and it does keep you on your toes."

The Ravens will be without linebacker Terrell Suggs who injured his knee last week when he took an illegal hit from Brady Quinn. Suggs had played a team high 105 consecutive games before the injury.

The Saints are hoping to post their first 10-game win streak when they travel to Tampa to face the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.

New Orleans will need to cut down on mistakes as they turned the ball over three times in Sunday's 28-23 win over the Rams.

They have 13 turnovers in four games as Drew Brees threw two interceptions and Marques Colston had one fumble against the Rams.

One bright spot last week was running back Reggie Bush who is coming off one of the best games of his career, rushing for 83 yards. Bush, who missed practice this week to rest a sore knee, also had a career-long 55 yard long run.

Tampa has had the Saints' number lately winning three of their last four meetings.

Saints high-powered offence is led by quarterback Drew Brees who is on pace to join Peyton Manning as only quarterbacks to throw for 4,000 yards in four consecutive seasons.

Tampa is hoping rookie quarterback Josh Freeman is for real as he is making his third start. He led fourth-quarter comebacks from double-digit deficits in the past two weeks, including beating Green Bay for team's only win.

Last Sunday, Freeman helped give the Bucs the lead before Miami drove for winning field goal in the final seconds.

The Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles are both desperate for a victory and one of them will get it when they meet Sunday in Chicago.

The Bears (4-5) have lost four of their past five games while the Eagles are coming off two losses.

The Dallas Cowboys are in first place and the Washington Redskins are last but you can throw the records out the window when these two meet.

Sunday marks the first game between the fierce rivals in the new Cowboys Stadium and the 99th career meeting. Washington has won five of the past eight games between the two.

The New York Jets will be looking for their second win over New England this season when they square off. New England is coming off a crushing loss last week as they squandered a 17-point lead by allowing the Colts to score 21 points in the final quarter.

Buffalo hopes to continue their domination over Jacksonville as they meet for the fourth-straight year with the Bills winning two of the last three contests. It will also mark the head coaching debut of Perry Fewell who took over from fired Bills' coach Dick Jauron earlier this week.

South Africa rugby team relieved to be back on track

by Barnaby Chesterman UDINE, Italy (AFP) --

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers and captain John Smit agreed that the world champions were back on track following their 32-10 win over Italy here.

The Springboks had lost their previous three matches, including two against English club sides and a 20-13 defeat in Toulouse against France.

But after running in four tries to one here they are now feeling much happier ahead of next week's test against Six Nations Grand Slam champions Ireland.

"When you come into these games the result is secondary to what you want to achieve," said De Villiers, who admitted to being worried about how his scrum would fare against the Italians.

"We focused on scrums today and our lineout work, driving from there and our lineout jumping, to see how it would work in the future. I think we achieved more than today's result."

"I was a bit afraid coming into this game that psychologically (last week's scrummaging problems) would give more to the players than anything else.

"I know the ability of our scrums, I know that our players are world class, I know they can stand up for themselves under all circumstances and I think the last 20 minutes instilled that kind of confidence that we tried to bring over to them in practice."

Smit felt his team-mates had rebounded well from their France defeat.

"It was a tour in which we lost our first game against a good French side and we played beneath ourselves and allowed that to happen," he said.

"So the frustration was high in a week where we were pretty much all over the place, via Saracens and missing a day's training on Wednesday because of the weather.

"Our boys regrouped pretty well and again we fell back on that experience of battling behind the things that worked for us and we stuck to a lot of those things that worked for us today and it ended up becoming a good result for us."

One of the main plusses for South Africa was a solid debut by Cheetahs prop Wian du Preez depsite a baptism of fire against Martin Castrogiovanni.

"I think it was a big task for him in his first start in a Springbok jersey to be up against a scrum as formidable as the scrum we were up against today," said Smit.

"He's had some good form in the local competition, the Currie Cup, and I think the challenge for him was to convert that to international level. I think he'll be happy with the experience and he'll be a far greater player in the next year or two to come."

Italy largely played well but crucial missed tackles cost them two tries and they didn't help themselves by missing three penalties.

But coach Nick Mallett, a South African, was nonetheless satisfied.

"There was no lack of desire, the defence was fantastic. We missed two tackles on two of their tries but when we all saw Castro's (Castrogiovanni) tackle on (Bryan) Habana in the 78th minute to stop him at 200km/hr, it was incredible that an Italian player could be getting up and tackling like that right to the end.

"I don't like to talk about individual players after the match because I believe that is a conversation that should stay between a coach and his players in private.

"But it's true that our place kicking and kicking from the hands was not as good as the South Africans'."

Italy will complete their November series against Samoa in Ascoli next week and captain Sergio Parisse knows there is a lot of expectation that they will end their 13-match losing streak.

"I think everyone is expecting a win next week but it won't be an easy game," he said.

"Samoa showed against Wales that they can play good rugby, hence we need to recover physically because we gave a lot today and against New Zealand."

US Senate votes to start Obama health drive debate

WASHINGTON (AFP) --

The US Senate, torn along party lines, voted to formally launch debate on historic legislation to enact President Barack Obama's signature drive to remake US health care, handing him a win for now.

The 100-seat chamber's two independents joined all 58 Democrats -- including two waverers who declared their intentions just hours earlier -- to launch what is expected to be a weeks-long fight over opposition from 39 of 40 Republicans.

Republican Senator George Voinovich of Ohio did not vote.

"The President is gratified that the Senate has acted to begin consideration of health insurance reform legislation," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

"Tonight's historic vote brings us one step closer to ending insurance company abuses, reining in spiraling health care costs, providing stability and security to those with health insurance, and extending quality health coverage to those who lack it. The President looks forward to a thorough and productive debate," Gibbs added.

The measure -- which includes a government-backed insurance program to compete with private firms and restrictions on dropping care for pre-existing ailments -- is estimated to cost 848 billion dollars through 2019 but cut the sky-high US budget deficit by 130 billion dollars over the same period.

A successful final vote -- expected a month away at the earliest -- would force the Senate and the House of Representatives to reconcile their rival versions of the bill and vote again to send it to Obama.

Republicans, one of whom has vowed a "holy war" against the bill, hope to kill the bill or delay the battle into next year with the expectation that the 2010 midterm elections may make it harder for centrist Democrats to support it.

Jacko 'moonwalk' glove sells for 350,000 dollars

by Sebastian Smith NEW YORK (AFP) --

The rhinestone-encrusted glove worn by pop icon Michael Jackson for his first "moonwalk" dance in 1983 sold Saturday for 350,000 dollars at a frenzied auction in New York.

The sparkling piece of pop history, customized from a simple left-handed golf glove still marked "Made in Korea," was the climax of an auction featuring more than 70 items from the late singer's career.

Including commission, the glove's final, pre-tax price was 420,000 dollars.

The pre-sale estimate at the "Music Icons" sale by Julien's Auctions in New York had been for the glove to go for a modest 40,000 to 60,000 dollars.

But with Jackson mania surging five months after his death, frenzied bidders from around the world and at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York's Times Square sent the price rocketing.

Bidding for the glove opened at 10,000, immediately shot to 120,000, reached 220,000 within another minute, and kept on going.

Other memorabilia sold included sparkle-encrusted shoes and socks, portraits of Charlie Chaplin drawn by Jackson as a child, an autographed shirt, a 1985 Mercedes, handwritten letters, and posters.

Almost every lot was sold, commonly at three or more times the estimated price and often at least 10 times over, with bidders from Australia, Dubai, France, Hong Kong and Japan competing by telephone or Internet with the raucous, highly excited crowd in the room.

A black jacket decorated with multiple zips and buckles that Jackson wore for his 1987-1989 "Bad World Tour" -- his first as a solo artist -- sold for 225,000 dollars before commission, leaving the estimated price of 8,000-10,000 in the dust.

A fedora hat estimated to go for just 1,000-2,000 dollars ended up going for 22,000 dollars.

Even a simple signed photograph of the Jackson Five sold for 1,600 dollars, way above the 200-400 dollar estimate.

Jackson regularly added a single glove to his costume in concert or in his ground-breaking music videos, and many are in the hands of collectors.

Another crystal-studded white glove sold in Melbourne in September for 49,000 US dollars.

But the glove sold Saturday by Julien's has a special claim to fame as the one worn when Jackson first performed his instantly cult "moonwalk" dance.

Darren Julien of Julien's Auction said the golf glove originally cost about 30 dollars.

Jackson had it adorned with Swarovski crystals and wore it in a televised concert marking Motown's 25th anniversary during which he performed "Billie Jean" and unveiled the sliding, backward steps of the new dance.

"This was his most historical performance... It was his first performance of 'moonwalk.' He performed it in his kitchen at home two nights before," Julien said.

Jackson died on June 25, aged 50, at his rented mansion in Los Angeles after an overdose of prescription drugs.

The singer revolutionized the pop music industry and created some of the world's biggest hits, but he also had a troubled personal life and was accused on several occasions of abusing small children.

He remains big business in death.

"This Is It," the behind-the-scenes movie of Jackson's preparations for a comeback concert planned before his death, raked in more than 200 million dollars in its first two weeks.

Rain-lashed Britain braces for fresh deluges

COCKERMOUTH, England (AFP) --

Britain's flood-hit northwest braced Saturday for more devastation after river levels rose again and forecasters warned of more rain following unprecedented torrential deluges.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown surveyed the grim aftermath on a visit to the badly hit town of Cockermouth, with houses filled with muddy water, silt and sludge carpeting the roads and cars left awkwardly where the floods left them.

The floods forced hundreds of people out of their homes and left a policeman dead after the bridge on which he was standing was swept away.

Some 314 millimetres (12.3 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours -- the highest level since records began -- over the county of Cumbria as torrential rains swept across Britain and Ireland this week.

In Devon, southwest England, a canoeist also died after being pulled from the River Dart, which was swollen by the heavy rains. The 46-year-old man became trapped against a tree, emergency services said.

Meteorologist Paul Mott said more rain was expected on Sunday and in subsequent days, adding: "Some will be quite heavy and there will be more prolonged showers on Tuesday.

"But it's not going to be nearly as heavy as Thursday -- it's just going to be a very slow recovery."

The Environment Agency said river levels were rising again in Cumbria and the emergency services once again urged people not to go back to their homes.

An estimated 1,300 homes have been affected by flooding across the region, 1,000 left without power, and hundreds of people displaced. Almost 70 people remained in temporary accommodation late Saturday.

Brown met people unable to return home at a reception centre in a hotel in Cockermouth, which lies on the edge of the scenic Lake District, and pledged an extra one million pounds (1.65 million dollars, 1.1 million euros) to help flood-hit communities.

"This is the second time I have been flooded out, in 2005 I was out for six months. This time its hopeless. I don't know when I will get back home," said 88-year-old Doris Studholme.

"I've lost everything again. Last time they had to carry me out, this time they came quickly and got us out before the flood."

Four bridges collapsed in the area, including one in the coastal town of Workington which was swept away on the raging waters of the river Derwent.

Policeman Bill Barker, who was due to celebrate his 45th birthday on Saturday, was directing motorists away from the bridge when it collapsed on Thursday. His body was recovered on a beach downstream.

Tony Cunningham, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Workington, at the time described the flood as "of biblical proportions."

Brown said Barker was "heroic" and praised the "superb response" of all the emergency services, who on Friday staged dramatic rescues in Cockermouth including airlifting people to safety from the roofs of their homes.

Rescue boats were used to negotiate the streets which turned into canals after the Derwent and Cocker rivers burst their banks.

Heavy rain was also seen in neighbouring Ireland, causing floods that Environment Minister John Gormley said were "a once in 800 years event."

Rivers burst their banks, coastal towns were threatened by sea flooding and state broadcaster RTE reported that 18,000 households were left without water in Cork, Ireland's second city, following damage to the main pumping station.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen chaired a meeting of the national emergency coordination committee, and said the main concern was to help people evacuated from their homes and to maintain water supplies.

Troops were drafted in to assist emergency services in the worst hit areas, as forecasters warned of more rain to come.

Real go top to put pressure on Barca

by Phil Seery MADRID (AFP) --

Real Madrid warmed up for next Sunday's 'El Clasico' with a 1-0 home win over Racing Santander on Saturday to move top of the table, two points clear of champions and arch rivals Barcelona.

Argentine Gonzalo Higuain's goal after 22 minutes sealed a nervy Real victory that hardly appeased a Santiago Bernabeu crowd seething at the embarrassing Kings Cup exit to third division Alcorcon in the last home match.

Barcelona can reclaim top spot with vicory at Athletic Bilbao later on Saturday before the eagerly-anticipated clash between Real and Barca at Camp Nou next Sunday.

"It is always complicated after a two-week break and coming off the back of the Kings Cup loss," explained Real coach Manuel Pellegrini.

"When you get towards the end of the match with only a goal cushion it is always risky but we had several chances and also hit the post twice.

"Now we have to concentrate on FC Zurich (in the Champions League) and then we can look at the Barcelona game."

Real began without the sidelined Cristiano Ronaldo for the tenth consecutive game while captain Raul started on the substitutes bench for the third successive league game.

Xabi Alonso rattled the post for Real in the opening stages while former Liverpool team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa saw his overhit cross clip the same post.

A Real goal looked on the cards and they got a helping hand when goalkeeper Tono foolishly pushed Kaka's cross into the danger zone and Higuain had an easy tap in on 22 minutes.

It was a nightmare start for Racing coach Miguel Angel Portugal in his first game in charge but Real didn't build on their encouraging start.

Luis Garcia had three good shooting chances for Racing but failed to hit the target on each occasion.

Higuain should have scored his second on 70 minutes but Tono pulled off a fine save to keep his side in the match.

Racing then had what looked a perfectly valid equaliser ruled out for offside leaving Racing goalscorer Sergio Canales dumbfounded.

Real now host FC Zurich in the Champions League on Wednesday needing a win with AC Milan on the same points and Marseille just a point behind.

Barcelona are also in Champions League action at home to Inter Milan on Tuesday in a must-win game for the holders.

Sevilla kept up their own title charge with a 2-1 win at promoted Tenerife to stay three points behind leaders Real.

Argentine winger Diego Perotti and Brazilian Renato were on target as Sevilla kept pace with Barcelona and Real.

The 21-year-old Perotti, who won his first cap for Argentina this month, struck the opener on 32 minutes before Renato added a second three minutes after the break.

Manolo Jimenez's side now travel to Unirea Urziceni in the Champions League on Tuesday with qualification for the knockout stage secure.

Elsewhere Deportivo La Coruna moved up to fourth with a dramatic 2-1 home win over Atletico Madrid.

Mexican Andres Guardado converted a controversial penalty five minutes into stoppage time to down Atletico who stay in the bottom three with coach Quique Sanchez Flores still waiting for his first league win in charge.

"We weren't expecting that ending but things like that can happen in football," said Flores. "It is not going to be easy to bounce back in the league."

The game looked poised to end 1-1 but Pablo Ibanez conceded a penalty at the death and Guardado made no mistake.

Atletico forward Sergio "Kun" Aguero was furious about the decision with coach Flores coming onto the pitch to calm him down while Atletico midfielder Cleber Santana was sent off for complaining.

Title hopefuls Sevilla stay on Real's heels

by Phil Seery MADRID (AFP) --

Sevilla kept up their title charge with a 2-1 win at promoted Tenerife on Saturday to move level on points with second-placed Real Madrid.

Highly-rated Argentine winger Diego Perotti and Brazilian forward Renato were on target as Sevilla recorded an eighth win of the season to keep pace with powerhouses Barcelona and Real in the title race.

The 21-year-old Perotti, who won his first cap for Argentina this month, struck the opener on 32 minutes before Brazilian Renato thumped in a second three minutes after the break.

Nino pulled a goal back for Tenerife but Sevilla held on for the win to move level with Real and a point behind Barcelona.

Manolo Jimenez's side now travel to Romanians FC Unirea Urziceni in the Champions League on Tuesday with qualification for the knockout stage secure while Barcelona and Real still have work to do to book their passage.

Elsewhere Deportivo La Coruna moved up to fourth with a dramatic 2-1 home win over Atletico Madrid.

Mexican international Andres Guardado converted a controversial penalty five minutes into stoppage time to down Atletico who stay in the bottom three with coach Quique Sanchez Flores still waiting for his first league win in charge.

Sergio "Kun" Aguero put Atletico ahead after just three minutes following a mistake from central defender Alberto Lopo but the visitors could not build on the start.

Atletico gifted the equaliser to Depor on 20 minutes with some awful defending from a set-piece with a near post flick-on coming to Argentine Diego Colotto to bundle home.

The game looked poised to end 1-1 but Pablo Ibanez conceded a penalty at the death and Guardado made no mistake.

Aguero was furious about the decision with coach Flores coming onto the pitch to calm him down while Atletico midfielder Cleber Santana was sent off for complaining.

Real Madrid aim to go into next Sunday's 'Clasico' against Barcelona at Camp Nou on a high note with a home win over Racing Santander on Sunday.

Real's last match at the Santiago Bernabeu saw them crash out of the Kings Cup to third division Alcorcon - losing 4-1 on aggregate - so they will be keen to put on a good show for their disappointed fans.

"After what happened against Alcorcon we owe the fans," said Real coach Manuel Pellegrini. "We all know how important the Clasico is but right now we are just thinking about the Racing game."

Unbeaten Barcelona hope to go into the Real Madrid match as leaders by beating Athletic Bilbao at San Mames later on Saturday.

Barcelona have lost Eric Abidal and Yaya Toure to the flu bug that has spread through the squad while Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also out with a thigh injury.

Guardiola is crossing his fingers that Ibrahimovic is back in time for Tuesday's crucial Champions League match against Inter Milan at Camp Nou.

"I do not think it is serious but we will see how things go," said Guardiola. "I hope that next week things will improve. If he is not ready I do not want any excuses being made."

Many eyes will be on Barcelona striker Thierry Henry following his controversial handball which helped France eliminate the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup play-off.

Barcelona slip up hands Real initiative

by Phil Seery MADRID (AFP) --

Barcelona dropped two costly points in a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to fall a point behind new leaders Real Madrid ahead of next Sunday's eagerly-anticipated 'El Clasico' at Camp Nou.

Brazilian Dani Alves put Barca ahead early in the second half but substitute Gaizka Toquero, only on the pitch a few minutes, equalised soon after as Barca surrendered top spot to Real.

"It is a bad result when you consider the opportunities we had," said Alves.

"We now have a tough Champions League game Inter and then Real. We just have to be positive and believe in ourselves."

Real produced a nervy 1-0 home win over Racing Santander on Saturday thanks to a Gonzalo Higuain strike and supplant their rivals at the summit.

"It is always complicated after a two-week break and coming off the back of the Kings Cup loss," explained Real coach Manuel Pellegrini.

"When you get towards the end of the match with only a goal cushion it is always risky but we had several chances and also hit the post twice."

Losing top spot now is an untimely blow for Barca who have two huge home games next week, beginning with a crucial Champions League match against Inter Milan on Tuesday and then the Clasico against Real at Camp Nou.

The media spotlight was on Barca forward Thierry Henry after his controversial handball which helped France eliminate the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup play-off.

However, coach Pep Guardiola took the forward out of the firing line starting him on the substitutes' bench, only introducing him in the 84th minute

Barca opted for a small front three of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Pedro with Zlatan Ibrahimovic out with a thigh injury which also makes him a doubt for the Inter game on Tuesday.

Messi should have scored in the 13th minute after being put clean through but couldn't get the ball out of his feet and his shot was blocked.

Messi wreaked havoc again when he rounded Iraizoz to set up a chance for Xavi who could not get a good enough contact to guide the ball in.

Bilbao had been second best but with seconds left in the first half Javi Martinez should have put the hosts in front but mistimed his header to miss the target and a sea of Athletic players held their heads in disappointment.

Barca got an early breakthrough in the second half with Xavi feeding a delightful pass to rampaging right back Alves who finished like a striker on 53 minutes.

However Toquero, only on the pitch five minutes, raced onto a headed flick to equalise nine minutes later.

Holders Barca now must focus on Inter in a must-win game with their title defence in the balance.

Real host FC Zurich on Wednesday needing a win with AC Milan on the same points and Marseille just a point behind.

Cristiano Ronaldo has missed ten consecutive games due to his troublesome ankle but could return ahead of the Barca clash.

Without Ronaldo Real have struggled in front of goal at times but got a helping hand from Racing goalkeeper Tono who foolishly pushed Kaka's cross into the danger zone and Higuain had an easy tap in on 22 minutes.

Sevilla kept up their own title charge with a 2-1 win at promoted Tenerife to stay three points behind leaders Real.

Argentine winger Diego Perotti and Brazilian Renato were on target as Sevilla kept pace with Barcelona and Real.

Manolo Jimenez's side now travel to Unirea Urziceni in the Champions League on Tuesday with qualification for the knockout stage secure.

Elsewhere Deportivo La Coruna moved up to fourth with a dramatic 2-1 home win over Atletico Madrid.

"We weren't expecting that ending but things like that can happen in football," said Flores. "It is not going to be easy to bounce back in the league."

Real go top of Spanish league to put pressure on Barca

by Phil Seery MADRID (AFP) --

Real Madrid warmed up for next Sunday's 'El Clasico' against Barcelona with a 1-0 home win over Racing Santander on Saturday to move top of the table, two points clear of champions Barcelona.

Champions Barcelona can reclaim top spot with victory at Athletic Bilbao later on Saturday before the eagerly-anticipated clash between Real and Barca at Camp Nou next Sunday.