LEAD: Real Madrid 10 points ahead after win in Getafe

Feb 4, 2012, 21:26 GMT

Madrid - Rampant Real Madrid extended their lead atop the Spanish Liga to 10 points on Saturday with a 1-0 win at neighbours Getafe, on a goal from Spain defender Sergio Ramos.

Jose Mourinho's leaders were in the driving seat from start to finish but only managed to score once, when aerial specialist Ramos headed in a corner from Mesut Oezil in the 18th minute.

League top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo had a goal disallowed for a tight offside three minutes from time.

Dull Getafe, who are eighth, hardly managed to create a single clear chance to equalize.

It was Real's sixth straight win and left them with a record-breaking tally of 55 points from 20 games, 10 more than second-placed Barcelona, who were due to receive Real Sociedad in Saturday's late game.

Earlier on Saturday, defiant Espanyol battled to a 3-3 draw at Athletic Bilbao thanks to an injury-time equalizer from supersub Juan Albin.

Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa said: 'I am sad but not annoyed with this result. We created three times as many chances as Espanyol and should really have won.'

Oscar de Marcos, one of Bilbao's promising youngsters, gave the hosts an early lead, only for Koffi Romaric to level for Espanyol.

Vladimir Weiss put Espanyol 2-1 ahead three minutes into the second half, against the run of play, but the Basque 'Lions' turned the game around with headed goals from Spanish internationals Fernando Llorente and Javi Martinez.

However, Uruguayan striker Albin then came off the bench and made it 3-3 with a left-footed blast after being set up by Kalu Uche.

The draw leaves Espanyol in fifth place with 32 points, level with fourth-placed Levante. Bilbao are sixth with 30 points.

Levante were held to a disappointing 1-1 home draw by Racing Santander, for whom Manuel Arana hit the equalizer after Arouna Kone had put the hosts ahead.

According to Santander coach Juanjo Gonzalez, 'this was a fair result because of the all the hard work we put in this evening.'

Saturday's other early game was a 1-0 home win for Mallorca over Betis on a goal from Gonzalo Castro. A bad-tempered game saw Ivan Ramis and Victor sent off for Mallorca, along with Betis defender Mario.