Manuel Pellegrini believes Real Madrid can still win La Liga, after his team kept up with Barcelona with a 3-0 win over Espanyol.

First-half goals from Sergio Ramos and Kaka put Madrid in control, and substitute Gonzalo Higuain added a brilliant third late on as Pellegrini's men made it 11 out of 11 at the Bernabeu.

"We have eleven wins at home," the Los Blancos coach told Marca. "In that respect, we are satisfied. There are still seventeen league games left."

"We will see what happens. The future cannot be predicted.

"Barcelona are on top on merit."

Pellegrini then chose to go into the details of Los Merengue's comfortable win over the Periquitos.

"We had a great first half," Pellegrini added. "We tested Kameni on several occasions. We were playing a team that does not concede easily."

"In the second half, we were less mobile than in the first.

"But we had two chances, and scored a goal."

The Real coach then decided to comment on specific team members, starting with one of the goalscorers of the night, Gonzalo Higuain.

"Higuain has never left the starting eleven," stressed Pellegrini. "He left because he was injured. He played the amount of time that he could.

"Guti was also not completely fit. Granero is in good form.

"It is difficult to ask more of Kaka after a month and a half out.

"Before long, he is going to become a very important footballer for us again."