Brief reports of matches played in the Primera Liga on Sunday:
ALMERIA 1 ATHLETIC BILBAO 1
A tight contest looked to be going Almeria’s way when striker Alvaro Negredo fired home from the penalty spot after Jose Ortiz went down in the area on the hour.
But struggling Athletic earned themselves a point when gangly striker Fernando Llorente found the net for the fourth game in a row with a powerful header 18 minutes from time.
GETAFE 3 REAL MALLORCA 3
Getafe looked to be on course for an easy win after first-half strikes from Mario Cotelo and Juan Albin and an own goal from Ivan Ramis put them 3-1 up early in the second half.
Mallorca, whose opener was scored by Getafe old boy Dani Guiza, had defender Lionel Scaloni dismissed late in the first half, but they refused to fold and striker Juan Arango orchestrated a late fightback.
The Venezuelan fired in a long-range free kick 13 minutes from time and then provided the assist for Ramis to skim in the equaliser which earned the islanders a fifth draw in a row.
LEVANTE 2 REAL ZARAGOZA 1
Basement side Levante continue their battle for survival with a surprise win over Zaragoza who are now in deep trouble after four defeats in a row.
Striker Alexandre Geijo headed in at the far post to put Levante in front just before the half hour and Riga made it 2-0 when he outfoxed Zaragoza defender Francisco Pavon after racing on to a lofted pass from inside his own half.
Zaragoza pulled one back when midfielder Oscar stabbed in from close range.
REAL BETIS 4 REAL MURCIA 0
Betis continued their revival with an emphatic win over struggling Murcia who have now gone eight games without a win and conceded the opener when defender Cesar Arzo bundled into own net on 15 minutes.
Br azilian forward Edu headed home the second before the break after good work from the lively Mark Gonzalez, Mariano Pavone clubbed home a third after the break and Rafael Sobis wrapped up with a penalty 16 minutes from time.
VALLADOLID 0 RACING SANTANDER 1
Racing continued their drive for a place in Europe by edging a late win at Valladolid.
Argentine midfielder Aldo Duscher grabbed the winner when he sent he got his foot to a miscued cross from Oscar Serrano and sent the ball ballooning into the far corner.
VILLARREAL 0 OSASUNA 0
Stalement at the Madrigal with Villarreal missing their chance to tighten their grip on a Champions League berth after a laboured performance against a dogged Osasuna.
Played Saturday:
ATLETICO MADRID 4 BARCELONA 2
Atletico stopped Barca in their tracks thanks to a virtuoso display from teenage striker Sergio Aguero.
The Argentine cancelled out a spectacular overhead kick from Ronaldinho with a deflected shot after 36 minutes and provided a clever assist for Maxi Rodriguez to put the home side ahead.
After the break Aguero won a penalty that was coolly converted by Diego Forlan and capped a superb display with a brilliant solo effort to make it 4-1.
Samuel Eto’o scored Barca’s second 16 minutes from time. - - - -
DEPORTIVO CORUNA 2 SEVILLA 1
Sevilla lost for the first time in six outings despite taking the lead after a neat strike from Frederic Kanoute.
Relegation-threatened Depor equalised 10 minutes later with a penalty from Sweden midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson and midfielder Angel Latifa earned a valuable win when he steered in at the near post midway through the second half.
ESPANYOL 2 VALENCIA 0
Espanyol claimed their first points in four matches thanks to a double from Luis Garcia.
The Spain forward put the Catalans in front in the fourth minute after latching onto a neat flick-on from Jonathan Soriano and wrapped up the win with a penalty early in the second half.
Valencia midfielder Hedwiges Maduro was sent off 10 minutes from time after picking up a second booking.
RECREATIVO HUELVA 2 REAL MADRID 3
An unsteady Real looked in trouble when defender Martin Caceres gave Recreativo an early lead but they got back in the game after Raul nodded home just before the half hour.
There was a flurry of dismissals after the break with Recreativo losing defenders Beto and Quique Alvarez either side of Real fullback Sergio Ramos being sent off.
Substitute Robinho took advantage of the gaps in Recreativo’s defence and earned a win that restored Real’s five-point lead at the top with two classy finishes, his first less than a minute after stepping onto the pitch.