Kaka scores on return for Real Madrid

KAKA came off the bench after six weeks out injured to score a goal that kept Real Madrid hot on the heels of leaders Barcelona in La Liga last night.

The Brazil playmaker scored eight minutes from time to give Real a nail-biting 2-1 victory away to Real Zaragoza, who had fought back to level at 1-1 with ten men through Adrian Colunga in the 62nd minute.

Raul put Real ahead after 50 minutes and in a heated atmosphere Zaragoza had defender Matteo Contini sent off soon after following a clash with Gonzalo Higuain.

The result moved Manuel Pellegrini's side up to 86 points with four matches remaining, one behind Bara, who had earlier beaten basement club Xerez 3-1 with a nervy display at the Nou Camp.

Bara fielded a weakened side with one eye on next week's Champions League semi-final return against Internazionale, and were led to victory by goals from Jeffren, Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Inter's influential playmaker Wesley Sneijder is a doubt for the semi-final second leg in Barcelona due to a thigh problem. The former Real Madrid man, who scored in Inter's 3-1 first-leg win, came off at half-time in the 3-1 Serie A victory over Atalanta last night.

In France, Lorient dealt Bordeaux's Champions League hopes a blow, Kevin Gameiro scoring in a 1-0 home win.

Panathinaikos defeated Aris Salonica 1-0 in the Greek Cup final, Sebastian Leto scoring.