LEAD: Comeback kings Real Madrid looking solid on top

Jan 28, 2012, 21:27 GMT

Madrid - Spanish leaders Real Madrid scored another comeback victory on Saturday, 3-1 at home to bottom team Zaragoza.

It was Real's third straight come-from-behind win, and it left them eight points ahead of second-place Barcelona, who were due to visit lowly Villarreal later Saturday.

Barca, weakened by injuries, really must win in order not to lose sight of Real.

Real almost pulled off another comeback win at Barca in the cup on Wednesday but could only manage a 2-2 draw, which narrowly eliminated them.

The thrashing of Zaragoza was the ideal way for Jose Mourinho's leaders to recover from their cup setback.

Angel Lafita gave Zaragoza a shock lead in the 11th minute by turning in a centre from veteran Carlos Aranda.

But Kaka, who is finally fitting into Mourinho's plans, calmly made it 1-1 in the 32nd minute after being played through by Ricardo Carvalho.

Mesut Oezil, another Real player in good form, set up Cristiano Ronaldo to give the whites the lead four minutes into the second half. Then Oezil made it 3-1 with his sweet left foot after being set up by Kaka.

Real eased up after the third goal, looking slightly tired after Wednesday's exertions in Barcelona.

Zaragoza are completely stranded at the bottom, six points below Sporting Gijon, and seven below Granada and Villarreal.

Earlier Saturday, Espanyol maintained fifth place with a 1-0 home defeat of lowly Mallorca.

Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino said: 'Mallorca made things difficult for us. It was not an easy game at all.'

The only goal in Cornella came in the 19th minute, when Espanyol's Vladimir Weiss took advantage of a mistake by Mallorca keeper Dudu Aouate.

It turned out to be a day to forget for Aouate, who was harshly sent off four minutes into the second half for a non-existent foul on Rui Fonte.

Espanyol had few problems keeping 10-man Mallorca at bay. It was the perfect way for the Catalans to recover from Tuesday's cup meltdown at third-division side Mirandes.

Espanyol now have 31 points from 20 games, same as Levante - who are fourth on goal difference - but two more than sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao.

Bilbao won 3-2 at Rayo Vallecano thanks to an impressive hat-trick from Spain striker Fernando Llorente.

Marcelo Bielsa, coach of Bilbao, said of Llorente: 'He was magnificent for us today. A player capable of scoring three goals is important for any team, and he was very important for us today.'