February 10, 2007

MADRID (AFP) – David Beckham made a dramatic goal-scoring return for Real Madrid as the Spanish giants beat Real Sociedad 2-1 to breathe new life into their faltering title campaign.

Ironically, the former England skipper's performance may also have helped save Fabio Capello's job.

The Italian coach had vowed Beckham would never play for him again after the ex-Manchester United man signed a 250-million-dollar deal to move to Los Angeles Galaxy in the United States at the end of the season.

But with Madrid in danger of slipping off the championship pace, and the Spanish media predicting the axe for Capello if they lost on Saturday, the 31-year-old Beckham was recalled and he made a fairytale return.

He found the net in the 36th minute with a trademark, right-foot 25-metre free-kick which sneaked around the side of the Sociedad wall and beat Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

"I am happy that Beckham scored," said Capello.

"All the team is happy for him. I have spoken with him twice in the course of the last two weeks and what we said will remain just between us."

On Friday, when Capello announced that Beckham had been recalled, the Italian had been fulsome in his praise of the player.

"He is a great professional and we are counting on him until the end of the season," said Capello.

Recognising he was too hasty to drop one of his most experienced players, Capello said: "The wise thing to do was to rectify" his original decision

On Saturday, Mikel Aranburu had given second-from bottom Sociedad a seventh-minute lead when he headed in from close range after goalkeeper Iker Casillas had made a terrible hash of a cross from the right by Xabi Prieto.

Madrid made sure of the three points when Ruud van Nistelrooy scored the winner three minutes into the second half.

It was the Dutchman's 11th league goal of the season.

Beckham, who last played in the 2-0 defeat against Deportivo La Coruna on January 7, didn't have things all his way however when he picked up a second-half yellow card.

On Sunday, reigning champions Barcelona face Racing Santander and will welcome back Argentinian attacker Lionel Messi who has been out of action with a broken foot for three months.

It's the second piece of good news for coach Frank Rijkaard in the last week after the return of Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o in the 0-0 draw with Osasuna after a four-month absence.

Barcelona are unbeaten in the league at home this season but have only won three of their last nine games, and all against teams in the bottom four of the division.

Rijkaard still has worries over the fitness of Deco and Ronaldinho but, if history is any sort of indicator, Barcelona should notch up three points.

Racing have lost on their last nine trips to the Nou Camp and not won there since 1983.

Last season, they went down 4-1 in the same fixture, with Messi among the goalscorers and to add to their woes, Racing strikers Nicola Zigic and Pedro Munitis are both suspended.