The win cut Barcelona's lead at the top to six points after the leaders were held to a 0-0 draw on Tuesday by Espanyol.

Owen, handed a rare start by coach Wanderley Luxemburgo in place of club skipper Raul who has been hit by flu, opened the scoring after just nine minutes at the Bernabeu after a pass from Santiago Solari.

The Englishman had been paired with Ronaldo who had missed Saturday's defeat at Deportivo through injury but it was another Brazilian World Cup winner who got his name on the scoresheet next.

Roberto Carlos, named skipper for the night in the absence of Raul and who was the target of 'monkey chants' from Deportivo La Coruna fans at the weekend, showed no hangover from the abuse when he thundered in a free-kick from just 12 yards for the second goal four minutes from the break.

It was also the perfect way for the veteran defender to celebrate his 300th Spanish League appearance with the goal which came from an indirect free-kick played to him by David Beckham.

Owen was relishing his opportunity to impress and should have added a third when he was clean through on goal early in the second half but blasted over the top with just the keeper to beat.

Real Betis pulled one back on the hour mark through Edu, beating Cesar in the Real goal after regular keeper Iker Casillas had been injured in the first half.

But it only spurred Real into a higher gear and Ivan Helguera headed in a third just a minute later.

Villarreal moved into third place after a 2-1 win at home to Real Mallorca with former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan grabbing the winner six minutes from the end.

Forlan has found Spanish football far more to his taste as it was his 16th of the season, leaving him just two adrift of the league's leading scorer Samuel Eto'o.

Defending champions Valencia and Sevilla, both chasing a Champions League spot for next season, battled out a 2-2 draw with Jesuli giving Sevilla a 40th minute lead.

David Navarro, on the stroke of half-time, and Argentinian international Pablo Aimar, on the hour, then gave Valencia, who sacked coach Claudio Ranieri last week, a 2-1 advantage.

Julio Baptista gave Sevilla a share of the points with a 67th minute penalty.