Beckham returns to help fire Real's title push

David Beckham returned from a six-week injury absence to set up Real Madrid's winner in a 2-1 victory over Primera Liga title rivals Valencia at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

Ruud van Nistelrooy scored with a spectacular volley to put Real in front before Fernando Morientes levelled against his former club soon after the break. Beckham, fit again after a knee injury, came on as a second-half substitute and provided a trademark free kick for Sergio Ramos to head the deciding goal in the 73rd minute.

Real climbed to second in the table on 57 points, two behind leaders Barcelona who visit Villarreal on Sunday. Third-placed Sevilla (55) host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Valencia (53) are fourth. Real Sociedad kept up their chances of avoiding relegation with a 2-0 home win over Atletico Madrid.

Serbian striker Darko Kovacevic poked in Savio's cross for the opener before Brazilian forward Savio made it 2-0 with a volley six minutes from time. Atletico had midfielder Peter Luccin and defender Fabiano Eller sent off in the second half.

The Basque side, who claimed their third win in four, remained second bottom with 27 points, three from safety. Atletico stayed sixth with 50.

REAL DESIRE

Real showed more desire to get forward early at the Bernabeu and took the lead after a sweeping move in the 18th minute. Put clear down the left, fullback Miguel Torres crossed and Dutch striker Van Nistelrooy lashed in a volley from the edge of the area.

Real midfielder Fernando Gago was lucky to be on the pitch at halftime. Having already received a yellow card, the Argentine's mistimed tackle on Miguel went unpunished before the interval.

Winger Joaquin created the equaliser for Valencia in the 52nd minute, beating his man down the right and crossing low for an unmarked Morientes to steer the ball inside the far post. Beckham came on as a substitute in the 65th minute and eight minutes later his free kick set up Ramos's winner.

Real went close to adding a third through Van Nistelrooy and Robinho, though keeper Iker Casillas had to be sharp to push out an Asier del Horno volley near the end.

United's Ferdinand aggravates injury

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has aggravated a groin injury and is doubtful for the Premier League leaders' match at home to struggling Sheffield United on Tuesday, the club said on Sunday.

The England defender came off during the first half of United's 4-1 victory over Watford in their FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday.

Ferdinand had been a doubt for that game after picking up a groin strain during the 7-1 rout of AS Roma at Old Trafford in the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

His setback adds to United's defensive difficulties with captain Gary Neville, Mikael Silvestre, Nemanja Vidic and John O'Shea also nursing injuries.

Wenger says Arsenal survive hell

Hell for Arsenal in the last month has been a struggle to retain their hopes of a Champions League berth next season while the other clubs in England's Big Four reached this season's semi-finals.

"Sometimes you have to...go down a little bit, to flirt with the hell, to see how much you can deal with that to come up and be stronger," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters.

A 2-1 win over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday ended a run of four games without victory for Arsenal, Champions League runners-up a year ago, and tightened their grip on fourth place in the Premier League and a Champions League berth.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce conceded after the defeat at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium that the fight was over. "I think we can say the Champions League has gone," he said. Wenger was more cautious, however, telling reporters his side were not there yet.

"Not completely but it's a bit step," Wenger said. "With a game in hand, of course we want to focus now on our next game. To lose the game today would have put us in a bad situation."

Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool charged into the semi-finals during the week. Arsenal were eliminated in the first knockout round by PSV Eindhoven last month after losing the League Cup final to Chelsea in February.

Wenger said he was pleased at how his young side, now five points clear of fifth-placed Bolton, had overcome their poor run when they scored only once in four games including defeats on Merseyside by Everton (1-0) and Liverpool (4-1).

"Last week we were in a bad situation, losing here (1-0 to West Ham United) and going to Newcastle (0-0), and having to play Bolton of course," he said.

"I feel we had a disappointing three or four weeks and...I'm very proud of how the team responded and I respect a lot what they did, the way they behaved in the last few weeks, even if they were the most painful few weeks of the season. "Unfortunately, you go very quickly to hell and very slowly to heaven."