Ruud van Nistelrooy acknowledged yesterday's 2-0 defeat of Osasuna was "boring" for the Real Madrid crowd.

Van Nistelrooy, along with Wesley Sneijder, struck the goals for Real and the striker remarked afterwards: "The best thing about today was the three points. The fans were bored and so were we on the field as well.

"It was a routine game for us. Osasuna played great, we won. This is the story today."

He added: "The important thing was to win the three points and go to Barcelona with a difference of four points.

"It is always the biggest game of the season, one which we all like to play."