Both sides started brightly in a tense first half that saw Alvaro Mejia given a torrid time by Ludovic Delporte and Savo Milosevic, Deloprte later curling a free-kick onto the bar with Iker Casillas beaten.The match started to boil over in the second half when Real Madrid were correctly awarded a penalty after Baptista was brought down from behind by Raul Garcia, the Brazilian dusting himself off to send the spot-kick into the roof of the net on 51 minutes.

Both Osasuna's fans and players subsequently lost the plot, petulance and frustration seeing Savo Milosevic booked for dissent and a (full) teapot amongst the objects thrown from the stands at celebrating Real players.

Sergio Ramos was forced to clear off the line after Achille Webo had slid the ball across goal to Delporte, while Patxi Punal saw his penalty saved by Casillas after Webo was pulled down at the near post by Pablo Garcia.

CLOSE SHAVES

David Lopez also hit the bar for Osasuna in a final thirty minutes that saw the home side dominate possession but lose their discipline both organisationally and in front of goal.Casillas himself was sent off for a second bookable offence - receiving a card for dissent in the first half and then, with ten minutes remaining, foolishly kicking the ball away - but Real held on to move onto 66 points, two behind Valencia in second. Osasuna stay fourth on 62 points although their potential Champions League qualification is under threat from Celta Vigo and Sevilla in fifth and sixth respectively.

Real and Brazil will however be concerned at an apparently serious ankle injury to Baptista, who appeared to damage ligaments after a late tackle by sub Moha.