Real Madrid kept in touch with arch rivals Barcelona with a comfortable 3-0 win over newly promoted Hercules yesterday.

Striker Predrag Mijatovic, on his home league debut after signing from Valencia, stretched superbly to net a cross from Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos after 15 minutes.

Twenty minutes later Raul Gonzalez headed home the second, and the teenager made it three in a second half when the heavy rain made organised play virtually impossible.