Real Madrid continued their perfect home record and moved three points clear at the top of La Liga on Saturday.

But they were given a scare by Sporting Gijon before winning 3-1.

Madrid produced little of note during a disappointing first half against a determined Sporting, and a shock looked on the cards when the mid-table visitors took a 53rd-minute lead through David Barral.

However, that goal served to spark Madrid into life and within four minutes they were 2-1 ahead thanks to strikes from Rafael van der Vaart and Xabi Alonso.

Gonzalo Higuain then slotted home his 20th goal of the season in the 68th minute as Madrid made it 14 league wins out of 14 at the Bernabeu this term.

It was also Madrid's ninth successive victory in the league and saw the Whites edge clear of second-placed Barcelona, who face a testing trip to Real Zaragoza on Sunday night.

Madrid did not have it easy though.

In the first half they found it difficult to create chances against a Sporting side who looked keen to take the game to their hosts.

Higuain went closest to breaking the deadlock with two openings, firing one wide and then being denied by Juan Pablo Colinas just before half-time.

Sporting, as they did throughout the match, also caused problems going forward, although they were unable to test Iker Casillas on too many occasions.

Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini decided to shake things up at the break, sending on Guti for Lassana Diarra, and initially things looking promising for the home side.

With just 60 seconds on the clock they created a great chance, but Van der Vaart headed Higuain's cross over from five yards out.

Eight minutes after that Madrid, who won this fixture 7-1 last season, found themselves behind.

A chip over the top gave Barral the chance to progress into the Madrid area and, from a narrow angle, he lashed a powerful rising shot past Casillas and into the roof of the net.

At that point, and remembering the trouble they had creating opportunities in the first half, a first home league defeat since May looked a distinct possibility for Madrid.

However, the hosts hit back immediately.

Just three minutes after going behind, they got back on level terms when Juan Pablo could only parry Cristiano Ronaldo's 30-yard free-kick into the path of Van der Vaart, who slammed the ball in.

Juan Pablo raced after the referee claiming the Dutchman had handled the ball before scoring, but his protests only served to earn him a yellow card.

Juan Pablo would have felt even more frustrated two minutes later when Madrid went ahead.

Madrid had gone close just previously when Marcelo's shot was superbly saved by Juan Pablo, but the visiting custodian could do nothing to deny Alonso moments later.

Esteban Granero's inswinging corner flicked off the head of Ronaldo before being nodded home at the far post by Alonso.

That should have been the cue for Madrid to go onto record a comfortable win, but Sporting were determined not to go down without a fight.

Former Atletico Madrid midfielder Miguel de las Cuevas had a great chance to equalise in the 65th minute but he was denied by Casillas.

Two minutes after that Madrid put further daylight between the teams when Higuain charged at the heart of the Sporting defence before drilling a low left-footed shot into the corner to make it 3-1.

Both sides had chances to add to the scoreline in the closing stages, with Ronaldo and Raul going close for the hosts and Casillas denying Diego Castro following a mistake by Sergio Ramos.

There would be no more goals though and Madrid were able to celebrate an important, if not necessarily eye-catching, victory.