Alonso: Real learning to control games

Real Madrid have won five straight La Liga games many times before but it is the dominant manner of their most recent run of victories that suggests they may be closer to ending Barcelona's three-year grip on the Spanish title. Jose Mourinho's expensively-assembled side, who play at Real Sociedad on Saturday (2000 GMT), relied more on swift counter attacking last season and often seemed incapable of exerting the control that is a hallmark of their great rivals.Lately, however, forward Cristiano Ronaldo, resurgent playmaker Kaka, in-form strikers Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain and their team mates have blown their opponents away in the opening stages before shutting them out by keeping the ball for extended periods.All four of their goals in last weekend's win at Malaga came in the first half, as did all three in Wednesday's 3-0 success at home to Villarreal. They have netted 21 goals on their run of five victories, conceding only three, and are a point clear of Barca after nine matches."We are increasingly able to control games and we are reading them better all the time," said midfielder Xabi Alonso, who dictates play in the central areas much like his Spain team mate Xavi of Barca."Today (against Villarreal) we were able to mix some swift attacks with holding on to the ball and knowing how to interpret the game," the former Liverpool player told reporters."This means the team is continuing to grow and that's a good sign. The team is ambitious and will continue to do things better. We cannot simply rest on our laurels."