Real Madrid's David Beckham controls the ball as Atletico de Madrid's Cholo Simeone (L) tries to intercept during their Spanish First Division Derby against Atletico de Madrid on December 3, 2003. Real Madrid won 2-0. [Reuters]

Ronaldo notched up one of the fastest goals in Spanish football history to set Real Madrid on their way to a 2-0 victory over local rivals Atletico Madrid, and also to the top of the Spanish first division.

The Brazilian World Cup winner picked up the ball straight from the kick off and then ran 30 metres past the watching Atletico defender before putting the ball past goalkeeper Mono Burgos.

Only 16 seconds had elapsed after the referee had blown his whistle to start the game before Ronaldo got his 11th goal of the season, the quickest since Osasuna's Mariano Armentano scored after just 13 seconds on October 2 2001.

Real skipper Raul Gonzalez added the second for the hosts after 20 minutes, getting on the end of a stunning cross from England captain David Beckham.

However, Atletico had pride at stake in the local derby and their heads never dropped in a thrilling game when they were only thwarted from getting goals by the heroics of Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

The win put Real two points clear at the top Spanish first division after their nearest rivals Valencia and Deportivo La Coruna could only draw.

The reigning Spanish champions now have 30 points from their 14 games while Valencia lie second with 28 points following their 0-0 draw at Real Sociedad on Tuesday.

Deportivo La Coruna lie third, one point further adrift, after a dull 1-1 draw at Valladolid on Wednesday.

The Galicians went ahead after 50 minutes when Valladolid defender Jonathan Martin put the ball in his own net, but the home side equalised 15 minutes later with a header from Oscar Garcia.

Real can consolidate their lead with a win over their eternal rivals Barcelona on Saturday, and the Catalans will need to rebuild their confidence after they crashed 5-1 at Malaga on Wednesday, their worst league defeat for nine seasons.

The catastrophe for the Catalans started early with Malaga striker Salva Ballesta finishing off a counter-attack after nine minutes, sending the ball through the legs of the hapless Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

Valdes was again at fault five minutes later, being hopelessly out of position and allowing Salva an easy header from a Vicente Valcarce cross.

Salva got his hat trick after 69 minutes, and his club's third goal, sending a long-range thunderbolt past the Spanish under-21 keeper, which at least this time he could not be blamed for failing to collect.

Diego Alonso added to Barca's misery shortly afterwards, getting Malaga's fourth with a superb shot after their Portuguese defender Litos had darted down the left wing to provide the service.

Barcelona got a consolation strike 12 minutes from the whistle but even then it was not their own strikers who found the net, with Malaga defender Fernando Sanz clumsily putting the ball in his own goal.

Manuel Canabal completed the rout four minutes from the whistle for the Andalusian club's best win since they returned to the top flight of Spanish football in the summer of 1999.

It was a bad night for clubs from Spain's second city as bottom club Espanyol went down 1-0 at home to Osasuna.

Cameroon striker Pierre Webo got the only goal of the game, leaving Espanyol defender Alberto Lopo for dead before blasting the ball past goalkeeper Toni Jimenez.

Lopo also had an early end to his sorry night after being sent off two minutes later for a rash challenge, his third red card of the season.

Murcia, one place above Espanyol, fared better although they left it late to secure a vital away point in a 1-1 draw at erratic Real Betis.

Luis Garcia equalised for Murcia from the penalty spot two minutes into injury time after Betis defender David Rivas had brought down Juanma Valero.

Betis had earlier taken the lead through Ismael Lopez two minutes after the break, with both sides having just 10 men on the field.

Murcia defender Mikel Roteta was shown a red card just two minutes into the game for a wild challenge on Dani Martin while Betis' Luis Fernandez joined him in the dressing rooms after getting his second yellow card a few seconds into the second half.

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