500-up for Raul

Madrid - Real Madrid captain Raul celebrated his 500th league appearance in the famous white shirt with a goal as the champions climbed to second with a comfortable 3-0 win at Real Mallorca on Sunday.

Incredibly it was Real's first away win in the league since October 18 and the capital giants are now nine points behind table-toppers Barcelona who have a game in hand.

Arjen Robben opened the scoring as early as the third minute before Raul, 31, struck on 17 minutes with his seventh goal of the campaign and Sergio Ramos netted a third in the second half.

"Scoring so early on made it a lot easier for us," said Real coach Juande Ramos. "Mallorca had to take more risks and then the second goal arrived quickly.

"We had the match under control because of the opening goal and they had to change their strategy and open up. A team like Real are capable of controlling games like this."

Real legend Raul now stands sixth in the Spanish league appearance standings just 24 matches from equalling the club record held by Manuel Sanchis.

Former Barcelona goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta holds the all-time appearance record with 622 league outings.

While Real had a great day at the office Atletico Madrid lost 3-2 at home to struggling Athletic Bilbao to increase the calls for coach Javier Aguirre's head.

Bilbao came from a goal down to stun Atletico whose misery was summed up when Maniche was sent off for a second yellow card in the closing stages.

Atletico are now four points behind fourth-placed Valencia and despite guiding the club into the last 16 of this season's Champions League, Aguirre is clinging to his job.

"Of course it hurts to lose, not play well and have the public air their frustration at me or the players," said Aguirre.

"We have taken two steps back in the league and the cup but we have to continue fighting to the death in both."

For Real, Dutch forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who made his debut last weekend, was dropped to the bench with Gonzalo Higuain, back from a bout of tonsilitis, partnering Raul in attack.

Higuain had an immediate impact, lofting a third minute pass to Robben who was just onside as he raced clear before slotting home to score for the second consecutive game.

Higuain was the provider again on 17 minutes powering down the right flank before fizzing in a cross that Raul flicked in with his trailing leg.

Just before the interval the Mallorca players were up in arms at not being awarded a penalty when Pepe appeared to use his hand to block a shot but the referee waved play on.

A paltry 2,500 fans had turned up at the Ono Stadium for Mallorca's midweek Spanish Cup match against Almeria, possibly due to the cold weather, and the bulk of the improved 23,140 crowd probably wished they too had stayed at home in the warm.

Ramos volleyed in a third on 66 minutes and Real kept a third successive clean sheet to suggest things are improving under new manager Ramos.