Brief reports of Primera Liga matches played on Wednesday:
ALBACETE 1 OSASUNA 1
Osasuna, still licking their wounds after their 6-1 pasting by Malaga, took the lead when striker Richard Morales lashed home from five metres out midway through the second half.
Albacete prevented the Navarrans from claiming their first win in nine matches, however, when
Antonio Pacheco converted a spot kick seven minutes from time.
GETAFE 1 DEPORTIVO CORUNA 1
Getafe dominated the first half but wasted a host of chances and were made to pay when striker
Diego Tristan put Depor ahead on the stroke of halftime after a neat exchange of passes with Juan Carlos Valeron.
Midfielder Gabi earned the Primera Liga newcomers a deserved point, however, when he sent a free kick crashing into the net from 25 metres midway through the second half.
LEVANTE 1 NUMANCIA 1
Basement side Numancia, who earned deserved 1-1 draw with Barcelona last weekend, took the lead midway through the first half when midfielder Patricio Graff smashed home from close range.
Levante stayed clear of the danger zone, however, when midfielder Felix Ettien powered home a close-range header after Numancia keeper Juanma failed to claim a cross.
MALAGA 1 ATHLETIC BILBAO 0
Four successive wins for rejuvenated Malaga, who still appeared to be on a high after their 6-1 thrashing of Osasuna.
Midfielder Juan
Rodriguez scored the winner with just two minutes on the clock when he rounded keeper Daniel Aranzubia after a precision through-ball from Duda.
RACING SANTANDER 2 ATLETICO MADRID 1
Atletico continued their worrying habit of surrendering an early lead when they allowed Racing to fight after Fernando
Torres had put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot in the 13th minute.
Uruguayan winger Mario Regueiro levelled when he beat keeper Leo Franco at the near post just before the break and
David Aganzo grabbed the winner early in the second half when he stabbed home to crown a lightning counter-attack.
REAL MADRID 3 REAL BETIS 1
Real took advantage of Barcelona's slip-up to close the gap at the top to six points as they gave the Andalucians a lesson in finishing at the Bernabeu.
Betis were the better side for much of the first half but an opportunist strike from
Michael Owen and a trademark thunderbolt from fullback
Roberto Carlos put them 2-0 up at the break.
Midfielder Edu pulled one back with a sharp strike early in the second half, but centre-back
Ivan Helguera snuffed out any hopes of a comeback with a looping header.
REAL SOCIEDAD 2 REAL ZARAGOZA 1
Sociedad took advantage of the sending-off of Zaragoza midfielder Albert Zapater to claim a much-needed three points that pushed the Basque side ahead of their opponents and into 12th place in the table.
Zapater put the visitors ahead when he headed in after a great cross from former Sociedad fullback Agustin Aranzabal just after the half hour, but Valery Karpin equalised from the penalty spot.
Midfielder Jose Barkero scored the winner with a thundering 25-metre free kick 15 minutes from time.
SEVILLA 2 VALENCIA 2
A dramatic finish to this heavyweight clash at the
Sanchez Pizjuan as Sevilla striker
Julio Baptista missed a late penalty and Valencia forward Xisco had a last-gasp goal controversially disallowed for a foul.
Forward Jesuli put Sevilla ahead with a clever volley in the 41st minute, but Valencia defender David Navarro made it 1-1 before the break when he got his head to a Pablo Aimar free kick.
Aimar scored with a fine shot from the edge of the area before
Baptista levelled with a penalty after Navarro was penalised for a handball. The Br
azilian fluffed his chance to secure victory, however, when he sent his second spot kick over the bar six minutes from time.
VILLARREAL 2 REAL MALLORCA 1
A third comeback win in a row at the Madrigal for Villarreal, who overwhelmed a valiant Mallorca in the final quarter.
The relegation-threatened islanders were rewarded for a determined start when Villarreal defender Javi Venta turned into his own net on 16 minutes, but they were unable to hold out in the second half.
Argentine striker Luciano Figueroa equalised with a classy finish and in-form
Diego Forlan prodded home from close range six minutes from time to take his tally for the season to 16.
Played Tuesday:
BARCELONA 0 ESPANYOL 0
An inspired performance from Espanyol keeper Carlos Kameni frustrated a dominant Barcelona in the Catalan derby and meant that Frank Rijkaard's side have now taken just two points from their last two games.
The Cameroon international produced a string of top class saves, including a stunning one-handed effort to stop a driven shot from Andres Iniesta in the second half, to deny the home side a victory.
Espanyol played the final 25 minutes with 10 men after centre-back Daniel Jarque was red carded for a dangerous challenge on Rafael Marquez, but Barca were unable to take advantage.