Primera Liga match reports

Reports of Primera Liga soccer matches played this weekend:

ALBACETE 0 DEPORTIVO CORUNA 2

Deportivo Coruna stayed in touch with the top two thanks to this battling win, which came despite having defender Hector sent off in the 66th minute.

Lionel Scaloni broke the deadlock in the 58th minute with a low shot on the rebound and Albert Luque struck on the counter-attack two minutes later.

Hector was red-carded for bringing down Carlos Aranda in the area but the Albacete striker missed the ensuing penalty and Deportivo held on.

ATHLETIC BILBAO 2 MURCIA 1

Murcia fought hard but could not prevent a defeat that leaves them four points adrift at the bottom of the table.

Bilbao took the lead in the 12th minute when Francisco Yeste crossed from the left for Ismael Urzaiz to head in.

Murcia hit back within two minutes, Luis Garcia converting Richi's cross, but Bilbao got the winner at the end of the first half when Daniel Jensen was sent off for handling in the area, giving Yeste the chance to score from the penalty spot.

CELTA VIGO 2 VILLARREAL 1

Savo Milosevic got the goals to give Celta's replacement coach Radomir Antic his first win since taking over at the end of January.

Milosevic headed in the first in the 19th minute after Villarreal keeper Pepe Reina's unsuccessful attempt to claim the ball and the second followed three minutes after the break following a good ball from new signing Sasa Ilic.

Villarreal pulled one back with a close-range finish from Sonny Anderson seven minutes from time but despite hitting the bar twice they could not complete a comeback.

ESPANYOL 2 VALLADOLID 0

Espanyol struck twice in two minutes early in the second half to set up a win that gives them real hope of avoiding the drop.

Raul Tamudo converted an Ivan de la Pena pass at the second attempt for the first goal after 56 minutes and Fredson's header clinched the points.

OSASUNA 1 BARCELONA 2

Barcelona had a brilliant Ronaldinho finish to thank for a third successive win that takes them up into the Champions League qualification places.

Javier Saviola put Barca ahead with a first-time finish from Xavi's astute through ball late in the first half but Osasuna hit back when Victor Valdes brought down Valdo in the box and gave away a penalty that was converted by Patxi Punal.

Osasuna poured forward in search of a winner but Ronaldinho got the winner in the 77th minute, controlling an Edgar Davids pass back into the area, teeing the ball up with one touch and hooking it back into the far corner.

Luis Enrique and Alfredo were both red-carded with a few seconds to go for squaring up after a disputed challenge from Ricardo Quaresma.

RACING SANTANDER 1 REAL BETIS 2

Betis winger Joaquin scored in the fourth minute of injury-time to give the visitors victory at the end of an evenly matched game.

Betis midfielder Benjamin had been the protagonist of the first half, scoring an own goal after just five minutes but then atoning for his error by beating two players and slotting a pass past Ricardo for the equaliser.

REAL ZARAGOZA 2 REAL SOCIEDAD 1

Zaragoza scored an injury-time penalty to clinch a victory that brought Sociedad's five-match winning run to an end.

David Villa put the home side ahead on six minutes but Xabi Alonso scored with a long-range blast to equalise before half-time.

The game was heading for a draw before Villa was brought down by Sander Westerveld on a late run into the box and he stepped up to convert the penalty and give Zaragoza a win that takes them out of the relegation places.

SEVILLA 3 REAL MALLORCA 0

Sevilla, beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid in the opening leg of their Cup semi-final at the Bernabeu, produced the sort of attacking display they will need if they are to cause an upset next week and reach the final.

Julio Baptista opened the scoring six minutes after the break by converting Antonio Lopez's pass and Francisco Gallardo made it 2-0 four minutes later.

Marti completed victory with a fantastic solo goal five minutes from time, the former Mallorca midfielder beating three players on his way into the area and then bending a shot round the keeper.

Played Saturday:

REAL MADRID 2 MALAGA 1

Real managed to extend their perfect home league record and keep hold of top spot as Malaga's late fightback came up short.

Ronaldo put Real ahead in the 25th minute, after David Beckham's precise through ball had set up Michel Salgado to cross low into the area, and Roberto Carlos cracked in a free kick for the second on 59 minutes.

Malaga got back into the game when Jose Juan Luque took a pass from Salva Ballesta and beat Iker Casillas but, despite a couple of close shaves, Real held on.

VALENCIA 3 ATLETICO MADRID 0

Valencia's comfortable victory kept them in touch with Real Madrid and made it nine goals in two games, following a 6-1 win over Malaga last weekend.

Vicente set up the opener for Mista, floating over a corner from the left for the striker to head back across keeper Sergio Aragoneses and in.

Sergi's second yellow card and Vicente's classy goal after 65 minutes settled the game. The Spanish international midfielder brought the ball in from the left, glanced up and swept over Aragoneses and into the top right-hand corner.

Mista's second came soon afterwards following a smart cross from Miguel Angel Angulo.