Primera Liga match reports

Brief reports of matches played in the Primera Liga on Sunday:

ESPANYOL 1 ALBACETE 1

A point does little to relieve Espanyol's relegation worries, but keeps Albacete clear of danger for the moment.

Pablo Redondo put the visitors ahead when he poked home from point-blank range on 21 minutes but the Catalans levelled when substitute Maxi Rodriguez clipped in after a driving run and pin-point pass from Ivan de la Pena 20 minutes from time.

RACING SANTANDER 1 ATHLETIC BILBAO 2

Bilbao went ahead against the run of play just before halftime when midfielder Andoni Iraola finished off a slick counter-attack with a low angled shot from the edge of the area.

Javi Guerrero equalised 14 minutes from time when he drilled in after a deft first-time pass from Mario Regueiro. Midfielder Francisco Yeste cracked in deep into injury time after a delightful backheel from Santi Ezquerro.

REAL BETIS 0 REAL MALLORCA 2

A morale-boosting win for the islanders that keeps them five points clear of the relegation zone, but a result that all but ends their opponents' hopes of a UEFA Cup place.

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o guided in from five metres on 14 minutes after Jesus Perera had broken down the left wing and clipped a curling pass to his feet.

Eto'o returned the favour just after the break when he slipped the ball to Perera on the edge of the area. The forward let the ball run past two defenders before turning sharply and firing low into the corner.

REAL MADRID 0 OSASUNA 3

Real lost their league leadership at the end of a crushing week when a determined Osasuna inflicted a first home defeat of the season on the champions.

Former Real Madrid player Valdo got Osasuna off to a perfect start when he cracked in unmarked at the far post after a long throw-in had sewn panic in the Real defence.

Pablo Garcia made it 2-0 just before the break, dinking in over a forest of players after Real keeper Iker Casillas had failed to claim another long throw-in.

Moroccan midfielder Moha completed the rout when he headed in at the far post just after the hour. To add to Real's misery leading striker Ronaldo was forced off in the first half with what looked like a hamstring injury.

REAL SOCIEDAD 2 MURCIA 0

Former Sociedad coach John Toshack had a bitter return to Anoeta as he watched his side slump to a defeat that effectively condemned them to a return to life in the second division.

Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci, signed by Toshack when he was at the club, grabbed both goals, dinking in after a great through-ball from Bittor Alkiza before drilling in after a sharp pass from Javi de Pedro two minutes from time.

REAL ZARAGOZA 0 VALENCIA 1

Valencia went top after Real's defeat to Osasuna with this patient away win against an in-form Zaragoza.

The visitors took control from the start but found it hard to prise open the well drilled Zaragoza defence and whenever they did find any gaps they came up against an inspired Cesar Lainez in goal.

But they kept plugging away and finally got their reward when midfielder Miguel Angel Angulo stooped low to direct a Jorge Lopez free kick into the net 20 minutes from time.

VILLARREAL 0 DEPORTIVO CORUNA 2

Deportivo completed a perfect week with an away win that allowed them to reclaim third spot from in-form Barcelona.

Walter Pandiani, who opened the scoring in Depor's stunning 4-0 win over AC Milan on Wednesday, missed an early penalty, but made up for his error when he netted with an expert glancing header seven minutes before the break.

Diego Tristan made sure of the points when he raced on to a neat pass from winger Pedro Munitis and finished off with a deft chip over the despairing Villarreal keeper Pepe Reina.

Played on Saturday:

CELTA VIGO 0 SEVILLA 0

Celta, long knocked-out of the Champions League and languishing in the relegation zone, slipped a step closer to second division football with an uninspired home draw in which they had only a handful of opportunities.

Sevilla, in the running for a UEFA Cup berth, had the best chances but failed to press home their advantage after Celta midfielder Jose Ignacio was dismissed in the 63rd minute.

Celta goalkeeper Pablo Cavallero secured his side a point with two spectacular saves in the second half.

MALAGA 3 ATLETICO MADRID 1

Fifth-placed Atletico were dealt a double blow when they squandered a chance to strengthen their bid for a UEFA Cup spot and had leading striker Fernando Torres sent off. The youngster will now miss next week's derby against Real Madrid.

Croatian midfielder Ivan Leko opened for Malaga just after the half hour when he drilled in from the edge of the area and former Atletico striker Diego Alonso made it 2-0 a minute into stoppage time when he cracked in after a corner.

There was still time for Atletico to pull one back before the break when Nano guided in from close range, but Alonso made sure of the win when he blasted home after Argentine striker Federico Insua jinked his way past the Atletico defence.

VALLADOLID 1 BARCELONA 3

Barcelona boosted their chances of a return to Champions League football next season with a comfortable win but their 13th consecutive unbeaten game was marred by a red card for playmaker Ronaldinho, who is now likely to miss a mid-week clash against Real Betis.

Barcelona took charge from the second minute with a well taken goal from Argentine striker Javier Saviola and added a second in the 30th minute with a classy volley from Ronaldinho.

Oscar Gonzalez pulled one back for Valladolid with a powerful header, but Barca's young Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta settled the game five minutes from time.