Real romp towards Spanish league title

(CNN) -- Real Madrid are poised to clinch a second successive Spanish league title after going 10 points clear at the top with a 2-0 victory at Racing Santander on Sunday. Coach Bernd Schuster will earn a trophy in his first year in charge next weekend if Real beat Athletic Bilbao next Sunday and nearest rivals Villarreal and Barcelona drop points.

Villarreal moved back into second place on Sunday as Nihat Kahveci and Santi Cazorla scored in the 2-0 victory against Real Valladolid, while Barcelona are a point further back in third after Saturday's 0-0 draw at home to city rivals Espanyol. Real captain Raul Gonzalez put the visitors ahead in the 13th minute with his 17th league goal this season, the 30-year-old deftly diverting Robinho's left-wing cross past goalkeeper Tono Rodriguez.

Santander, seeking to climb up into fourth place, almost leveled before halftime when a Cesar Navas skimmed past the post and then Real goalkeeper Ikar Casillas did well to deny Mohamed Tchite soon after the break. Robinho and Arjen Robben both fired wide and Tono kept out another effort from Raul before Gonzalo Higuain sealed victory for Real in injury-time when he sidefooted home a pass from fellow second-half substitute Javier Balboa on the counter-attack.

The result meant that Real are almost guaranteed the title with five matches still to play.