MADRID - A FIRST-HALF goal by Wesley Sneijder led Real Madrid to a 1-0 victory over Recreativo Huelva on Saturday, but failed to relieve pressure on under-fire coach Bernd Schuster despite the Spanish champions halting a poor run of results.

Sneijder was Madrid's most dangerous player, and the Netherlands midfielder scored in the 39th minute with a long-range deflected shot that dipped over goalkeeper Asier Riesgo after missing a number of prior chances.

Madrid snapped a three-game league winless run to move within two points of leader Barcelona, which plays Getafe on Sunday.

Barcelona has 28 points to be three ahead of Villarreal, which lost 3-0 to Valladolid for its first home defeat in nearly a year.

Sevilla and Valencia, which both have 23 points, play in Saturday's late match.

An unimpressive victory against a team that is next to last is unlikely to relieve all of the pressure on Schuster, who picked up his 35th victory in 50 league games with Madrid. Plus, his injury woes continue to grow.

Gonzalo Higuain pulled up clutching his left ankle after chasing a ball in the 76th. The Argentina striker, who was carried off on a stretcher, joins a handful of Madrid's international players missing to injury.

Sneijder's goal at least saw Madrid's squad take a first step toward a hefty pay bonus.

President Ramon Calderon has promised each player 120,000 euros (S$229,512) - for a grand total of about 2.5 million euros - if the two-time defending Spanish champion could string together five wins, starting with Recreativo.

Recreativo took advantage of the inexperienced central defensive partnership of Sergio Ramos and Pepe with Fabio Cannavaro out injured.

Recreativo striker Javier Camunas forced Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas to make a save in the eighth minute. He then hit Javi Guerrero's centreing pass over the crossbar from in front with Casillas beaten.

Sneijder headed Royston Drenthe's cross over from close range in the 11th. A minute later, Higuain went clear through to round goalkeeper Asier Riesgo, but his angled shot was cleared by Nasief Morris.

Raul Gonzalez was clear on goal in the 37th but couldn't turn Sneijder's perfect cross home. At the other end, Madrid's backline had problems containing Recreativo midfielder Kanga Akala, whoe forced Casillas into a diving save in the 44th.

Riesgo saved from Sneijder again early in the second half before Higuain chipped wide in the 53rd. Recreativo had a chance four minutes later, but failed to capitalise with Casillas caught out.

Rafael van der Vaart replaced Sneijder in the 67th, and Riesgo kept out the Dutchman's header before also saving in the ensuing scramble. It was as close as Madrid came to scoring a second goal.

Recreativo has now gone 11 games without a win, its worst run in team history.

At El Madrigal, Villarreal's unbeaten league record was undone by a late first-half collapse led by Jonathan Sesma.

Sesma scored inside the area in the 24th and took advantage of a 44th-minute blunder by goalkeeper Diego Lopez for a second.

Pedro Leon shot under Lopez moments later as Valladolid followed up last week's 1-0 win over Madrid with another three points against a league contender.

Villarreal last lost at home against Real Betis last December.

In Sunday's other games, it's: Mallorca vs. Malaga; Osasuna vs. Almeria; Numancia vs. Atletico Madrid; Racing Santander vs. Espanyol; Sporting Gijon vs. Betis; and Deportivo La Coruna vs. Athletic Bilbao. -- AP