SPANISH PREMIER LIGA:STRIKER RAUL set a club scoring record as Real Madrid swept aside Sporting Gijon 4-0 away yesterday to cut Barcelonas lead at the top of the Spanish Primera Liga to 10 points.

The leaders were held 2-2 away to Real Betis on Saturday, and the champions took full advantage as Raul scored twice and Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Marcelo added one apiece to make short work of their hosts.

Rauls goals made him Reals all-time top scorer, surpassing Alfredo di Stefanos tally by two to move on to 309 goals for the nine-times European champions.

Reals eighth consecutive victory put them on 50 points from 23 matches.

Sevilla climbed up to third with 41 points after two goals in the last six minutes from Frederic Kanoute earned them a 2-0 win away to bottom club Espanyol.

The Mali striker put away two Jesus Navas crosses against Espanyol, who played the last 25 minutes with 10 men.

Valencia are fourth on 38 points with Villarreal, after they drew 1-1 at home with Malaga on Saturday. Villarreal drew 1-1 at Racing Santander yesterday.

Real Madrid were without the injured Arjen Robben at the Molinon but his absence was quickly forgotten as Raul stroked in Sergio Ramoss cross after 15 minutes.

Juande Ramos gave new signing Huntelaar a rare start and the Dutch international striker returned the favour with his debut goal for the club, beating Inaki Lafuente in the one-on-one after a flick on from Gonzalo Higuain before the break.

Higuain set up the third just after the re-start back-heeling to set Marcelo clear on a counter-attack, and the Brazilian international calmly lifted the ball over Lafuente.

Sportings goalkeeper gifted Raul the fourth when he let Higuains shot squirm through his legs for a simple tap-in 14 minutes from the end.