The match was billed as a meeting between the second- and third-ranked teams in the world but the 1-0 scoreline gave little sign of the real gulf between the Iberian neighbours.

The European champions now face Paraguay on July 3 and have a strong chance of reaching only their second World Cup semifinal and the first for 60 years.

“We always controlled the game but in the second half we were better than Portugal, we had greater depth in our game and we controlled very well,” said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque.

Cristiano Ronaldo was a peripheral figure for Portugal, who clocked a couple of decent first-half chances but had few complaints after failing to score for the third time in four games in South Africa.

“Given the number opportunities, Spain had their victory and it sits well with what happened in the game,” said coach Carlos Queiroz.

“It must be recognised that Spain moved the ball extremely well and had a greater degree of possession.

“We had a number of opportunities but we allowed Spain to play the same type football up to the point where they scored.”

Spain looked dangerous from the off as Fernando Torres and Villa stung goalkeeper Eduardo’s palms three times cutting in from the left in the opening seven minutes.

Portugal plugged that gap however and, settling about their task, worked hard to ensure Spain’s crisp passing made patterns in the midfield instead of inroads towards goal.

Portugal actually had the clearer chances of the first half as a swerving Ronaldo free kick almost got past Iker Casillas while striker Hugo Almeida missed a great headed opportunity.

Spain continued to dominate possession after the break but struggled to find a way through until Del Bosque’s inspired substitution after 58 minutes.

A weary-looking Torres gave way to Fernando Llorente and two minutes later the big striker forced Casillas into a great save with his first touch – a diving header.

His presence upset Portugal’s concentration and spurred Spain to accelerate their approach.

It paid off decisively in the 63rd minute when after another crisp move from deep, Xavi cleverly rolled Andres Iniesta’s pass into the path of Villa and though the forward’s left-foot shot was saved he reacted quickly to ram in the rebound with his right for his fourth goal of the tournament.

Sergio Ramos, Villa and Llorente all went close to a second, with Eduardo keeping his side clinging on.

But in reality Portugal, semifinalists four years ago, were going out of the tournament and like a leaf in a whirlpool there was absolutely nothing they could do about it as Spain’s incomparable possession play deprived them of the ball.

Portugal’s disappointing night was completed with a harsh red card for Ricardo Costa after a mild off-the-ball clash with Joan Capdevila but Spain march on.

“It was a great collective effort, we tied to keep possession, keep the style of football we’ve been playing,” said man of the match midfielder Xavi.

“I think this is the best match we’ve played in this World Cup.”

The African superstar, wearing a protective cast, was introduced as a second-half substitute, but he was unable to tip the balance in his countrymen’s favour in the Group G clash.

Ivory Coast manager Sven Goran Eriksson described the encounter as “tight”.

The former England boss explained: “There weren’t many occasions to score, you saw two teams that didn’t want to lose. I thought if one team had won it should have been us, we created more chances than Portugal.

“I was very happy with our discipline and organisation, we were organised for 90 minutes, in the past it wasn’t like that.

“Another plus was Didier coming on to play. He’ll be even fitter for the next game,” added Eriksson, who as England manager lost to Portugal on penalties in the 2006 quarterfinals.

Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz said Ivory Coast proved tricky rivals as he said they had set out to contain Portugal and launch counter-attacks.

“What Eriksson wanted us to do was to take risks so we had to prevent Ivory Coast taking advantage of any errors that we might make.

“We had to play intelligently. Our motivation and attitude was clear. Everything is still possible. This is the Group of Death, only two from Brazil, Ivory Coast and Portugal, with respect to North Korea, can move forward.”

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo had the best chance to break the stalemate on a crisp winter’s afternoon in the first half when the Real Madrid winger’s 25m shot rattled Boubacar Barry’s left post in the 10th minute.

Barry’s opposite number Eduardo was let off the hook when shortly after Siaka Tiene’s curling long range free kick edged wide.

Another Ivorian, Ismael Tiote, then watched as his effort went over the Portuguese crossbar.

Referee Jorge Larrionda flashed his yellow card at defender Guy Demel for a foul on Ronaldo, who in turn was cautioned for his stroppy reaction.

The Ivory Coast, the last of the six teams from Africa to enter the World Cup fray in South Africa, were giving as good as they got against their rivals from Europe, ranked third in the world.

The game needed a goal and Salomon Kalou had Eduardo working with his shot on target in the 50th minute as Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz made his first change, replacing Danny with Atletico Madrid forward Simao.

Gone now was the caution that had marked much of the first period as this Group of Death curtain raiser really opened up and Barry had to be at full stretch to get hold of Liedson’s header after some nifty work down the left from Deco.

On 66 minutes Eriksson unleashed Drogba, who came on for his Chelsea teammate Kalou to by far the biggest cheer of the afternoon.

As the rain came down Ronaldo thought he had put the 2006 semifinalists into the lead but Larrionda had already whistled for a foul by Liedson.

On 80 minutes Ronaldo, who failed to score in any of Portugal’s World Cup qualifiers, sent a 35m freekick edging over Barry’s crossbar.

A Drogba-inspired Ivory Coast had Portugal on the hop in time added on but he miscued his shot and man-of-the-match Ronaldo and company escaped with a point.

The result left Ghana as the only one of the six African teams playing in this first ever World Cup in Africa to have won their opening first round match.

Group G favourites Brazil will take on North Korea later on Tuesday.

Teams:

Ivory Coast: 1-Boubacar Barry; 21-Emmanuel Eboue, 4-Kolo Toure, 20-Guy Demel, 17-Siaka Tiene; 10-Gervais Kouassi, 5-Didier Zokora, 19-Yaya Toure, 9-Cheik Tiote, 8-Salomon Kalou, 15-Aruna Dindane.

Portugal: 1-Eduardo; 3-Paulo Ferreira, 2-Bruno Alves, 6-Ricardo Carvalho, 23-Fabio Coentrao; 8-Pedro Mendes 16-Raul Meireles, 20-Deco, 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 10-Danny, 9-Liedson.

Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)

Reigning champions Barca lead their arch rivals by a point with two matches left and play at Champions League hopefuls Sevilla, in fourth, while Real host Athletic Bilbao, who are eighth and bidding for a Europa League berth.

Ronaldo’s hat-trick against Real Mallorca on Wednesday put the Portuguese third on the La Liga scoring chart with 25, one behind team mate Gonzalo Higuain, and Argentine Messi leads on 31 after his double against Tenerife on Tuesday.

Ronaldo became the world’s most expensive player when he joined Real from Manchester United for around €94 million at the end of last season, while Messi has been at Barca since the age of 13. A Barca victory in Sevilla and a slip-up by Real at home to Bilbao will guarantee Pep Guardiola’s side a second straight title as they won both this season’s “Clasicos” and head-to-head record separates sides if they are level on points.

Barca’s total of 93 from 36 matches is a record, surpassing the 92 accumulated by Real under Fabio Capello in the 1996-97 season when there were 22 teams rather than 20.

“Let’s hope Sevilla can take points off them, but our fate is not in our own hands,” Real coach Manuel Pellegrini said at a news conference after the 4-1 win in Mallorca.

“Our obligation is to get to 98 points and we’ll see if Barca can get to 99.” Five teams are deep in relegation trouble, with promoted Xerez hanging on by a technical thread after their 3-1 defeat at Valencia on Tuesday.

Tiny Xerez, who have an annual budget around 40 times smaller than Real and Barca, are bottom on 30 points and their superior head-to-head record over Malaga is the only thing that is saving them from going straight back down.

Racing Santander are in 17th on 36, one point above the relegation places and the same tally as Malaga in 16th, who have a superior head-to-head record. Tenerife are 18th on 35 and Real Valladolid are 19th with 33.

In Saturday’s games, which are all at 1900 GMT, Xerez host Real Zaragoza, Racing travel to Valladolid, Malaga play at Getafe and Tenerife host Almeria.

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The 24-year-old is the “favourite” of Real chairman Florentino Perez “for the new plan,” the newspaper ABC said.

Perez “has had his eye on Rooney for a long time, even more so in view of the great season he’s having”.

The England striker has unleashed an incredible burst of 24 goals in his last 22 matches that have kept United in contention in both the Premier League and Champions League.

Spanish media says it is unlikely that Rooney will follow former United star David Beckham to Spain.

Real are unlikely to accept the probable €70 million price tag and United manager Alex Ferguson is unwilling “to lose a player who is a substitute for Cristiano” Ronaldo, the Portuguese winger who was signed by Real last year for a world record fee.

Sports daily Marca reported Real are also keen on Chelsea’s England defender Ashley Cole to boost their back line.

The club splashed out more than €250 million on world stars last summer and are currently top of the Primera Liga on goal difference from Barcelona.

However, their exit from the Champions League in the last-16 stage to Lyon last week means they are now looking to prepare for next season.

The Portuguese forward opened the scoring with a trademark free kick on 18 minutes and was in unstoppable form to help set up four more goals as Real trimmed the gap between them and leaders Barcelona to two points.
It was the perfect tonic for Manuel Pellegrini’s side after their 1-0 Champions League defeat at Lyon on Tuesday and came a day after Ronaldo’s native Madeira was struck by violent floods and mudslides that killed at least 42 people.

“It was an exhibition,” Jose Samano wrote in daily El Pais under the headline: “Cristiano catches fire.”

“Ronaldo had been inspired either by his competitive nature, which has driven him since childhood, or the tragic rainstorms over his native Madeira, or a desire to put the setback against Lyon right as quickly as possible,” Samano added.

The world’s most expensive player had been criticised at times for being selfish since his summer move from Manchester United, but it was his creativity and generosity, as well as his awesome talent, that caught the eye against Villarreal.

“The Madrid attack found a one-man orchestra, capable of expressing himself in all the offensive forays,” wrote Orfeo Suarez in El Mundo.

“This was seen from his demonstration of power for the first goal, of speed and precision for the third, of intelligence in creating the opening for the fourth and of astuteness for the penalty in the sixth of the night,” he added.

“This Madrid, the Madrid of Cristiano, is like a predator: if you give it any advantage it won’t show mercy. It will kill you.”

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Writing in Publico, Ladislao Monino said Pellegrini’s decision to deploy Ronaldo on the flanks was key.

“Without doubt it was on the wing where Cristiano played his best match in white,” Monino wrote.

“He returned to his origins. There on the flank, where the white line limits a winger’s space, where the only escape is with a piece of exquisite skill or trick, Cristiano showed his most extreme version.”

Ronaldo offered his help to the people of Madeira on Sunday — after scoring his goal he lifted his shirt to reveal a vest with the name of the island written across it — and Marca columnist Roberto Palomar noted that the 25-year-old was motivated by the floods on the Atlantic ocean resort.

“Spurred on emotionally by the tragedy in Madeira, the lad deployed all of the repertoire we expect,” Palomar wrote.

“One supposes that as well as shooting, taking free kicks, orchestrating moves and making passes, Cristiano Ronaldo is also the one who folds the shirts, cleans the boots and cuts the grass,” he added.
“The only thing he doesn’t do is sell tickets at the gate.”

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The 25-year-old Portuguese superstar left English champions United to join Real for a world record transfer fee of £80 million in June and has enjoyed a fine start to his time at at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo, who won three Premier League titles as well as the Champions League during his six seasons at United, has scored 11 times in 13 La Liga appearances and has no intention of quitting Real in the immediate future.

But when his time in Spain is up, Ronaldo claims he would be happy to return to England.

“Of course I miss playing for Manchester United,” Ronaldo said in The News of the World. “I played there for six years and that’s a long time.

“I am still interested in watching Manchester United and, you never know, maybe in the future I could return to play there. It’s always possible.

“I want to fulfil my contract here but, in the future, only God knows. I will not say I am not happy here at Real Madrid.

“I am really happy and everyone knows this is my club but, of course, I miss Manchester United, the boss, the players, because I left family there.”

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It said the world’s most expensive player had been punished “for resorting to dangerous play that caused an injury” to an opponent.

It also fined Real 180 euros and Ronaldo 600 euros.

Ronaldo spoiled a stellar two-goal display on Sunday by getting sent off after a stray elbow caught Danish defender Patrick Mtiliga, who tugged the Portuguese winger’s shirt during the 2-0 win over Malaga.

Real’s sporting director, Jorge Valdano, described the referee’s decision as “unfair and “very hard.”

But, speaking prior to the disciplinary committee’s decision, he told Spain’s COPE radio that Real “will accept any decision” by the body.

The former Manchester United star said Monday he also felt his red card was unjust.

“I’ve spoken to Mtiliga and he said he doesn’t believe I should apologise because he doesn’t think I hurt him intentionally,” he was quoted as saying on the club’s website.

“I never try to trick referees. I never intended to injure the player. I believe they should be fair with what really happened.”

Mtiliga suffered a broken nose in the clash and has been ordered to “rest for a week,” Malaga said in a statement on Monday.

It was the second dismissal of the season for Ronaldo, who was sent off in a 4-2 win over Almeria on December 5 for kicking out at an opponent.

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It was all going swimmingly for Ronaldo who had ended a run of three games without a goal with a quick-fire brace (35th and 39th minutes) to take his season’s tally to nine but his volatile temperament surfaced again on 70 minutes.

Ronaldo elbowed defender Patrick Mtiliga as he tugged the former Manchester United man’s shirt and the referee had no hesitation in reaching for the red card.

It was a second dismissal of the season for Ronaldo who was sent off in a 4-2 win over Almeria on December 5 for kicking out at an opponent.

While Ronaldo’s sending off put a dampener on the win, Real will be relieved to bounce back from their Athletic Bilbao defeat with a 10th successive home win to close to within five points of Barcelona.

Barcelona beat Valladolid 3-0 on Saturday to go unbeaten for the first half of the season although no Spanish team has gone a whole 38-game season undefeated.

Guti, 33, made his first league start for Real since September after healing his rift with coach Manuel Pellegrini and even had the captain’s armband with Raul on the bench.

With eight minutes gone Malaga rattled the crossbar when Sergio Duda’s cross came off Xabi Alonso’s head and looped onto the bar.

Iker Casillas had a hairy moment near the half hour mark with the goalkeeper bizarrely using his head to block a chipped shot as he was outside of the area.

Ronaldo then took centre stage with two goals in four destructive minutes.

Guti, Karim Benzema and Kaka all combined quickly to put the ball on a plate for Ronaldo to roll home the 35th minute opener.

Malaga then witnessed Ronaldo in full flow as he collected Guti’s pass before firing a fierce shot into the corner.

Malaga had previously gone 10 games unbeaten in league, although eight of them were draws, but they knew there was no comeback this time around.

In the second half Ronaldo was gunning for his first ever Real hat-trick but instead the red mist descended again and his night ended on 70 minutes when he elbowed Mtiliga in the face.

Getafe came out on top in the local derby with Atletico Madrid defeating their 10-man neighbours 1-0 on Sunday to move four points off the Champions League spots.

Since winning promotion in 2004, Getafe had never beaten local rivals Atletico in the league at their Coliseum Alfonso Perez home but Manu del Moral’s 38th minute goal ended that sequence.

For Atletico, who had midfielder Paulo Assuncao sent off, it brought an end to a run of three successive league victories and they are now ten points off the top six.

Both Atletico and Getafe are in Kings Cup action on Thursday as they bid to reach the semi-finals of the competition.

Earlier Valencia missed the chance to keep pace with the top two following a frustrating 0-0 draw at promoted Tenerife on Sunday.

“We weren’t at our best today,” said Valencia coach Unai Emery.

“However, we are in a great position in the league and have to keep on going.”

Valencia sit five points ahead of Real Mallorca, who reclaimed fourth spot with a 1-1 draw at Espanyol on Sunday.

In other matches, Villarreal got back to winning ways with a 4-2 victory over struggling Real Zaragoza at El Madrigal.

Despite the win Villarreal are still down in ninth, seven points off the desired European places.

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who was exceptional, both started but it was Ibrahimovic who stole the limelight volleying in a 56th minute winner just five minutes after coming on.

Barca were reduced to 10 men when Sergi Busquets stupidly handballed just after the hour mark and needed some heroics from captain Carles Puyol, who produced three crucial blocks, against a Real side that missed some clear-cut chances.

It was a third successive Clasico win for Barca who are still unbeaten this season and nudge Real off the summit holding a two-point lead over their rivals.

Ronaldo started for the first time since the end of September with Real coach Manuel Pellegrini feeling his ankle was strong enough.

Ronaldo’s return saw Karim Benzema drop to the bench while captain Raul had to be content with a place on the bench.

Barcelona started with Messi who shrugged off a thigh strain but Ibrahimovic was on the bench with a thigh strain of his own so Thierry Henry kept his place in attack.

It was touted as the Clasico between Real’s ‘Galacticos’, the most expensive team on the planet, and the homegrown talent of Barca’s ‘cantera’ who the most successful team on the planet last season when they won a unique treble.

Real were second best in terms of posession and Messi looked match fit as he thrust at the Real defence twisting Pepe inside out but Henry’s poor low shot ended the danger.

Barca were passing like they can do but Real were looking the more dangerous.

On 19 minutes Ronaldo should have scored after Kaka cut inside before sliding the ball accross goal but Ronaldo’s side-footed shot was saved brilliantly by Victor Valdes using his trailing foot.

It was then Barca captain Puyol’s turn for a heroic block to deny Marcelo on 29 minutes.

Ibrahimovic came on for Henry minutes into the second half and had an immediate impact on his Clasico debut scoring the opener five minutes after coming on.

Dani Alves curled a delightful ball across the face of goal and Ibrahimovic arrived on cue guiding a left-footed volley past Iker Casillas.

Barca looked in control but Busquets was then sent off for handball just after the hour mark and Pep Guardiola was furious with his midfielder.

Real threw on Benzema but Barca should have made it 2-0 but Gerard Pique headed wide.

Down to ten men Barca still attacked although Real had chances with Ronaldo heading over and Puyol producing another great block to thwart Benzema.

Real substitute Raul skied from right in front of goal while Casillas pulled off a wonder save to deny Messi at the death.

Madrid’s Lass Diarra was sent off in the closing stages for hacking down Xavi after Barca pinged the ball about like they were in training.

Earlier former Real Madrid striker Roberto Soldado scored his second hat-trick of the season as Getafe heaped more misery on bottom side Xerez with a 5-1 thrashing at the Coliseum on Sunday.

Promoted Xerez actually took the lead with only their fourth goal of the season but Soldado equalised on 44 minutes and then netted his second 60 seconds later from the penalty spot.

To make matters worse Xerez had David Prieto sent off for giving away the penalty for a foul on Daniel Parejo.

Getafe exploited the numerical advantage scoring three times in as many minutes with Soldado wrapping up his hat-trick on 58 minutes.

It was a second treble for the striker following his hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Racing Santander.

In other matches, Deportivo La Coruna moved level on points with Valencia in fourth thanks to a 1-0 win at Racing Santander.

Atletico Madrid are also in action later when they host Espanyol at the Vicente Calderon.

The Daily Mirror reported in July last year that Ronaldo, who does not drink alcohol, had gone on a drinking binge despite the fact that he was on crutches, recovering from an ankle operation.

Under the headline “Ron the Lash,” it said the then Manchester United player had spent £10,000 on champagne and vodka for friends and models, having drunk four glasses of red wine himself earlier in the evening.

“It described how one clubber claimed to have seen him throw his crutches down on the floor and try to dance on his uninjured foot,” his lawyer Ronald Thwaites told the court.

But a lawyer for publishers MGN Limited told London’s High Court the newspaper “offers its apologies to the claimant for the distress, embarrassment and offence caused by this article.

“The defendant accepts that the allegations are false and ought never to have been published. It is therefore happy to set the record straight and to apologise to the claimant.”

Thwaites said that, although Ronaldo was in the nightclub in question, he did not drink any alcohol at all whilst there.

“He does not drink alcohol because he takes his health, fitness and recovery from injury very seriously. Nor did he throw his crutches to the floor and try to dance.

“He sat in a private corner under the care and supervision of the respected Portuguese national team physiotherapist, Antonio Gaspar.”

In a statement issued by his lawyer, the injured Real Madrid striker said: “I am delighted with this outcome.

“I take training and recovery from injury very seriously and would never have ‘gone on a bender’ and danced in a nightclub without my crutches as the Mirror falsely claimed,” Ronaldo added.