Madrid  - Real Madrid came back to life on Saturday with a tight, tense 1-0 home win over Valencia.

Real won thanks to an early goal from Gonzalo Higuain and a stellar display from goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Valencia left the Estadio Bernabeu complaining about the sending- off of captain Carlos Marchena, and bemoaning their lack of precision in attack.

Real only had 43 per cent possession, due to the counter-attacking style imposed by new coach Juande Ramos.

The win takes Real from sixth to fourth, with 29 points from 16 games.

Valencia are just one point above them now, tied in second place with Sevilla, both on 30.

Runaway leaders Barcelona - who are away to fifth-placed Villarreal on Sunday - have 38.

"We just about deserved to win this one," said Real captain Raul, who came on at half-time for a disappointing Royston Drenthe.

Valencia veteran Ruben Baraja, for his part, said that "a draw would probably have been a fairer result."

The only goal came after just three minutes. Arjen Robben skipped past Asier del Horno and set up Higuain, who scored with a powerful left-foot drive.

In the 17th minute, Rafael Van der Vaart hit the Valencia post, but the visitors gradually took control in midfield and David Villa came close to equalizing.

Ten minutes into the second half Baraja should have made it 1-1 with a point-blank header, which Casillas managed to push onto the post.

In the 67th minute, Marchena predictably picked up a second yellow card, for a mindless foul on the excellent Robben.

Higuain and Guti came close to making it 2-0 for Real, but Valencia managed to produce a spirited finale that almost gave them a point.

Later on Saturday, sixth-placed Atletico Madrid are away to struggling Espanyol. (dpa)