Almeria End Real´s Eight-Match Winning Streak

Real, whose previous league defeat was against Sevilla at the start of November, remain nine points clear of Barcelona at the top.

Real Madrid's eight-match winning run in the Primera Liga ended on Saturday when they lost 2-0 at an ambitious and classy-looking Almeria.

A first-half goal by centre-back Juanito and a penalty from former Real Madrid reserve team striker Alvaro Negredo less than a minute after the break gave Almeria a memorable victory in their first season in the top flight in 27 years.

Real, whose previous league defeat was against Sevilla at the start of November, remain nine points clear of Barcelona at the top but the Catalans have a chance to cut the gap when they host Osasuna at the Nou Camp on Sunday.

Almeria, who have now won four in a row, move up one place to seventh, three points ahead of Sevilla who visit Recreativo Huelva on Sunday.

A revived Real Betis host relegation-threatened Deportivo Coruna in Saturday's late match.