Liga Weekend Wrap: Title Race Wide Open Again
A controversial 90th minute penalty from Fernando gave Betis a 3-2 win over Real Sociedad in the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera. The Andalucians took a 12th minute lead when Fernando headed home Fernando Varela's right-wing cross. on 74 minutes they drew level when Nihat curled a free-kick past Toni Prats. The same player then put Sociedad ahead just two minutes later, when after Sander Westerveld had made a fine save from Denilson at the other end, he was set up superbly by Darko Kovacevic for 2-1. It was not until the 84th minute that Iulian Filipescu scored with an obscure overhead kick that looped
A controversial 90th minute penalty from Fernando gave Betis a 3-2 win over Real Sociedad in the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera. The Andalucians took a 12th minute lead when Fernando headed home Fernando Varela's right-wing cross. on 74 minutes they drew level when Nihat curled a free-kick past Toni Prats. The same player then put Sociedad ahead just two minutes later, when after Sander Westerveld had made a fine save from Denilson at the other end, he was set up superbly by Darko Kovacevic for 2-1. It was not until the 84th minute that Iulian Filipescu scored with an obscure overhead kick that looped high over the Dutch keeper and into the net. Betis again went forward and won a highly controversial penalty in the 90th minute when Dani went down under a Igor Jauregui challenge. The Sociedad man was sent-off for protesting, and Fernando converted from the spot.
Real Madrid were stunned by Osasuna who took all three points with a 1-0 victory in El Sadar thanks to Christian ManFredini goal eight minutes before the break. Madrid were completey out of luck as Luis Figo was sent off midway through the second half for a hard tackle on Patxi Punal before Fernando Morientes saw a fierce header saved on the line by Pipa Gancedo.
Edu and Jesuli both scored twice as Celta Vigo kept up their chase for a Champions League spot with a 4-1 victory over lowly Recreativo in the Balaidos. Edu scored two headers, one either side of the break before Jesuli was introduced to great affect. His first was a superb drive into the top corner of the net from an acute angle and his second came as he dummied both his marker and keeper before slotting the ball home from 12 yards. Sylvinho netted a bizarre own goal in injry time for Recre.
Alaves moved clear of the relegation fight as Ivan Tomic scored the only goal in their 1-0 victory over Villarreal in th Mendizorroza. The Serbian midfielder slammed the ball inside Jose Reina's near post 14 minutes from the end to clinch the three points for the home side.
Athletic Bilbao lifted themselves into eighth place after a tempestuous 2-1 win over Sevilla, who had two players and two coaches dismissed. Joseba Etxeberria opened the scoring for the home side in San Mames on the hour mark, before Fredi and David were sent off for late tackles on 62 and 80 minutes. It was not until the 90th minute that Santi Ezquerro was finally able to scure the points for Athletic as he steered home a penalty after Joseba Arriaga was chopped down by Juan Luis Redondo.
Racing Santander record their second consecutive win as they beat Rayo Vallecano 2-0 in El Sardinero to move out of the bottom three. Javi Guerrero opened the scoring as he founf the net from close range after 16 minutes and Yossi Benayoun doubled that lead soon after as he pounced on Imanol Etxeberria's fumble on the goal-line. Jose Maria Quevedo was sent off for the visitors nine minutes after the interval for his second bookable offence.
Atletico Madrid maintained their push for a European place as they beat Mallorca 2-1 in El Calderon. Jose Maria Movilla volleyed the home side into a 14th-minute lead as he met a weak clearance by Leo Franco. But the lead only lasted six minutes before Alvaro Novo also volleyed home this time from a neat cross from the left. But Mallorca were left struggling to keep out the impressive Atleti when Harold Lozano was sent off for a bad tackle on Fernando Torres. Luis Aragones' side eventually snatched all three points when Luis Garcia prodded home from close range after being picked out by Javi Moreno.
On Saturday evening, Barcelona leapt into 11th spot in the league as goals from Philip Cocu and Xavi gave them a 2-0 victory in the derby encounter against Espanyol in Montjuic. Juan Sanchez scored his first goal and Mauricio Pellegrino netted his first for Valencia as Los Ches drew level on points with Real Madrid after a 2-0 win over Malaga in the Mestalla. Roy Makaay scored the only of the game as Deportivo La Coruna beat Valladolid in the Nuevo Jose Zorilla.