MADRID, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A goal from Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain was enough to give his team all three points at home to struggling Racing Santander on Saturday night.

    Higuain maintained his place in Real Madrid ahead of Raul Gonzalez, who once again had to be content with a place among the Real Madrid substitutes.

    The game marked the return of former Real Madrid sporting secretary Miguel Angel Portugal on the Racing dugout.

    However, in the first half it was clear that the one training session Portugal had been able to hold with his players following his appointment on Thursday had not been enough to work any major changes.

 

Real Madrid's Kaka (L) fights for the ball with Racing Santander's Nasief Morris during their Spanish First Division soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid November 21, 2009

    Real Madrid was clearly the better team in the first period, despite the continued absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and the decision to rest French international Lassana Diarra following his two World Cup qualifying matches with France.

    Xavi Alonso hit the Racing post after 13 minutes and seven minutes later his former Liverpool teammate Alvaro Arbeloa did the same with a cross that evaded Racing keeper.

    A minute later Real Madrid scored. Ezequiel Garay got a touch on Kaka's cross, but it was Higuain who was on hand to make sure the ball crossed the line.

    Once again the Argentine forward justified his place in the Madrid starting lineup.

    The second half, however, was a dull affair. Although Real Madrid did appear to run out of steam, the visitors were not able to pose any serious threats to their defense.

    Racing had the ball into the back of the Madrid net with just 13 minutes remaining through right back Canales, but the referee ruled the effort out for an offside which television recast showedto be inexistent.

    The victory keeps Madrid in the race for the Primera Liga title, but does little to answer questions about the form of Manuel Pellegrini's side this season.

Real Madrid's Esteban Granero (L) fights for the ball with Racing Santander's Mehdi Lacen during their Spanish First Division soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid November 21, 2009