Brief reports of Primera Liga matches played on Sunday:
ATLETICO MADRID 1 REAL SOCEIDAD 0
Atletico climbed to eighth in the table, while Sociedad, who were reduced to 10 men in the final minute after defender Adriano Rossato was sent off, dropped to 15th.
Midfielder
Antonio Lopez scored the only goal midway through the first half when his deflected shot looped over Sociedad keeper Asier Riesgo.
Atletico wasted a string of chances to extend their lead in the second half.
OSASUNA 1 MALAGA 6
Malaga continued their impressive revival under coach
Antonio Tapia by racking up six goals against beleaguered Osasuna who have now gone eight games without a win.
The outstanding Miguel Angel opened the flood gates when he rifled home in the fourth minute and fellow midfielder Duda added another after Osasuna conceded an indirect free kick inside the area.
New signing Fernando Baiano scored two well taken goals either side of the break to make it 4-0.
John Aloisi pulled one back with a cracking volley but the Navarrans self-destructed when Moha and
Cesar Cruchaga were sent off, allowing Juan
Rodriguez and Paolo Wanchope to complete the rout.
REAL ZARAGOZA 1 VILLARREAL 0
Zaragoza became only the second side in 12 games to inflict a defeat on Villarreal with a high-quality performance at La Romareda.
Striker David Villa ended his recent scoring drought with the winner four minutes before the break, drilling in from 10 metres.
SEVILLA 2 RACING SANTANDER 2
Racing twice came from behind to earn a deserved draw against the high-flying Andalucians.
Leading scorer
Julio Baptista put Sevilla ahead in the 15th minute when he pushed the ball into the empty net after a superb pass from fellow countryman Adriano Correia.
Racing replied with slick attacking football and were rewarded just before halftime when
Aganzo stabbed in after the ball had fallen at his feet from a corner
Substitute Dario
Silva restored Sevilla's lead with a header but fellow Uruguayan Mario Regueiro nodded the equaliser five minutes later.
VALENCIA 2 REAL BETIS 1
Antonio Lopez made a winning start as Valencia coach when his side fought back from a goal down and a missed penalty to claim their first success in seven games.
Br
azilian Marcos Assuncao put the visitors ahead in the 12th minute with a fabulous free kick and it looked as though it was not going to be Valencia's night when Fabio Aurelio missed a penalty.
But their luck changed when midfielder
Ruben Baraja headed home just before the half hour and Mista grabbed a deserved winner 18 minutes from time when he finished a beautiful passing move.
Betis were reduced to 10 men when Assuncao was sent off for protesting that the goal was offside.
Note: Athletic Bilbao v Getafe to be played March 23.
Played Saturday:
DEPORTIVO CORUNA 2 REAL MADRID 0
Real's title hopes took a severe dent with a second successive defeat against Deportivo, who have not lost to the Madrid side at the Riazor in over 13 years.
Depor overwhelmed Real, with striker Albert Luque completing a sweeping passing move with an eighth-minute header.
Real went 2-0 down four minutes later when centre-back Francisco
Pavon looped a header into his own net after Victor had dinked in a cross from the right.
ESPANYOL 2 ALBACETE 1
Espanyol rejoined the hunt for a Champions League place with their second win in three games over a ragged-looking Albacete.
Argentine striker Maxi
Rodriguez put the Catalans ahead in the fifth minute when he nodded over keeper Raul Valbuena after Dani had dinked in a cross from the right.
Raul Tamudo extended the home side's advantage midway through the half when he stabbed home at the second attempt, but Albacete striker
Antonio Pacheco made for an exciting finish when he pulled one back with a swerving drive just before the hour.
NUMANCIA 1 BARCELONA 1
In the light of Real's defeat at Deportivo, Barca will be delighted with this hard-earned point against opponents who looked much happier in the icy conditions at Los Pajaritos.
Juanlu, who had an outstanding match in the Numancia midfield, put the basement side ahead just two minutes before halftime when he cracked in a spectacular free kick from close range.
Barca equalised two minutes after the break through Mexico defender Rafael Marquez.
REAL MALLORCA 1 LEVANTE 2
The horizon looks increasingly bleak for Hector Cuper's Mallorca, who surrendered a 56th-minute lead to lose out to fellow strugglers Levante.
Leading scorer Luis
Garcia put the islanders ahead with a precise right-foot finish, but the visitors levelled nine minutes later when former Barcelona forward Sergio
Garcia slid in at the far post after Felix Ettien had lifted a clever pass over the defence.
Midfielder Jofre scored the winner when he headed home eight minutes from time after another great assist from Ettien to give
Bernd Schuster's side only their second win in 15 games.