Brief reports of matches played in the Primera Liga on Sunday:
ALMERIA 1 VALLADOLID 0
A spectacular freekick from Alvaro Negredo earned Almeria a valuable win over fellow promoted side Valladolid.
The former Real Madrid youth teamer volleyed home from two metres outside the area when Corona flicked a freekick into the air after Valladolid defender Jose Antonio Garcia Calvo had been sent off for hauling back Juanma Ortiz 15 minutes from time.
ATLETICO MADRID 1 GETAFE 0
Atletico were lucky to emerge as victors in a bad-tempered match at the Calderon which saw the sending off of two players from each side in the space of 12 second-half minutes.
Uruguay striker Diego Forlan put Atletico in front in the 20th minute when he stabbed in from close range after Simao had sped down the left and angled in a pass towards the near post.
But the game degenerated into farce in the second half with Sergio Aguero and Jose Antonio Reyes of Atletico and Lucas Licht and Roberto Abbondanzieri of Getafe all seeing red.
BARCELONA 2 DEPORTIVO CORUNA 1
Depor took a shock lead in the third minute at the Nou Camp, former Barcelona youth teamer Cristian beating Victor Valdes from 20 metres with a spectacular swerver.
Cristian turned villain four minutes before halftime, however, when he gave away a penalty for a foul on Andres Iniesta and Ronaldinho equalised from the spot. Xavi secured an important win when he side-footed home 20 minutes from time.
LEVANTE 0 RECREATIVO HUELVA 2
Levante dropped further behind at the bottom of the table after this morale-sapping home defeat.
Javier Camunas put Recreativo in front late in the first half when he slotted home after stealing behind the Levante defence and fellow midfielder Jesus Vazquez made it 2-0 when he swept a first-time shot into the net after the break.
RACING SANTANDER 3 REAL MALLORCA 1
Cameroon striker Pierre Webo gave Mallorca an early lead with a fine header but Jorge Lopez equalised soon after, smashing home from a tight angle after a quick freekick.
Mallorca suffered another blow when Webo was harshly sent off for catching an opponent in the face as he shrugged off a tackle and Racing took immediate advantage, midfielder Aldo Duscher scoring with a great first-time shot on the half hour.
Racing were also reduced to 10 men when Oscar Serrano was sent off on 32 minutes but they still managed to extend their lead late on when striker Pedro Munitis slid in at the far post.
REAL ZARAGOZA 3 ESPANYOL 3
Two goals in the final four minutes from Br azilian striker Ricardo Oliveira allowed 10-man Zaragoza to come from 3-1 down and earn a point in a thriller at La Romareda.
Argentine striker Diego Milito put Zaragoza in front with a classy finish in the fifth minute but Espanyol responded with three goals in the space of seven first-half minutes.
Raul Tamudo claimed the first when he lobbed into the top corner, Valdo added a second with a superb curler and Pablo Zabaleta ghosted in at the far post to make it 3-1.
Zaragoza midfielder Peter Luccin was sent off for a foot-up challenge on Albert Riera at the start of the second half and Espanyol paid the price for failing to take advantage.
SEVILLA 3 REAL MURCIA 1
Sevilla went two goals up by the 14th minute of the second half thanks to an early strike from Luis Fabiano and a penalty from Italian midfielder Enzo Maresca.
Fernando Baiano pulled one back for Murcia but Br azilian striker Luis Fabiano scored his 10th of the season in added time to give Sevilla a first win in five outings.
VILLARREAL 0 REAL BETIS 1
A win for Paco Chaparro on his return to the Betis bench after Hector Cuper's sacking last week.
Midfielder Capi grabbed an early winner with a diving header in the ninth minute and the Andalucians had keeper Ricardo to thank as they held firm to claim a vital away win.
Played Saturday:
OSASUNA 0 VALENCIA 0
Another laboured performance from Ronald Koeman's Valencia who have won just two of their last seven matches and have not found the net in the last three.
Osasuna had the better of the game, Czech striker Jaroslav Plasil shaving the post with a left-foot drive in the first half and having a deflected shot cleared off the line in the second.
ATHLETIC BILBAO 0 REAL MADRID 1
Ruud van Nistelrooy grabbed the winner in a tight contest at San Mames with a great finish 10 minutes into the second half.
The Dutchman stole the ball off the foot of a defender, cut inside towards the area and fired an angled shot into the far corner to secure his side an important away win.