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Malaga took a deserved first half lead against Real with goals from Kizito Musampa and Dely Valdes, but the European champions sprang to life after the break and a brilliant solo effort from Zinedine Zidane, a tap-in from Raul and a Luis Figo penalty sealed the win.
The result keeps Real Madrid in third spot in the Spanish first division standings, a point behind Valencia and five adrift of leaders Real Sociedad who both play on Sunday.
After a troubled week, Barcelona managed to put their much-publicised problems to one side as Patrick Kluivert grabbed a fine hat-trick in their comfortable victory over Mallorca, their first win in six games.
The Dutch striker claimed his first with a diving header in the 25th minute, two minutes after Mallorca defender Alvaro Novo had been sent off for an off-the-ball incident involving Thiago Motta.
SELF-DESTRUCTED
The islanders then self-destructed when fiery Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o received his marching orders after he lost his head and kicked out at Motta soon after the opening goal leaving his side two short with an hour still to play.
Marc Overmars weighed in with a deflected strike in the 44th minute before Kluivert completed the rout with two more goals early in the second half.
The former AC Milan striker skipped past two defenders before firing inside the near post for his second in the 48th minute and completed his hat-trick with a flourish when he clipped in with his heel on 51.
Barca now move up to 10th place, a distant 13 points behind undefeated leaders Real Sociedad.
Malaga set
Dely shot just wide of the post after a fine cross from his team mate on seven minutes and the Real defence looked nervous every time Malaga went on the attack.
Real left back Roberto Carlos found himself caught out after 17 minutes when he inadvertently provided the pass for Malaga's Musampa to open the scoring.
The ball ricocheted off the Brazilian defender after Manu had squeezed his way past him on the right and fell to the former Ajax player who stabbed home from 10 metres.
TWO UP
Malaga continued to dominate and it came as no surprise when the Andalucians extended their lead five minutes before halftime with a brilliantly-crafted move on the edge of the box.
Musampa started things off as he turned past Zidane and slipped a neat ball to Dely, who immediately offloaded to Silva.
The Uruguayan striker sent a deft chip rebounding off the bar and straight into the path of Dely who scored with his thigh to make it 2-0.
But Real sparked into life after the break and Zidane scored a brilliant solo goal to put his side back into the match.
The French midfielder picked the ball up on the left wing, jinked his way past two defenders and then fired in with the outside of his right foot just two minutes after the restart.
Real then began to pour on the pressure and drew level when Raul turned the ball in midway through the second half after a neat cross from Ronaldo.
Six minutes later the visitors were gifted the victory when defender Juanito barged into Figo in the area and the Portuguese international coolly converted the penalty.
