Primera Liga reports

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

ATLETICO MADRID 2 MALAGA 0

Atletico recorded their sixth win in seven matches thanks to some fine finishing from midfielder Gonzalo de los Santos and Greek striker Demis Nikolaidis as well as some sharp goalkeeping from the alert German Burgos.

Former Malaga player De los Santos scored his first goal for Atletico with an unstoppable volley on six minutes. Just as the visitors looked as though they might fight their way back into the match, Nikolaidis put the result beyond doubt by cracking home on the turn midway through the second half.

MURCIA 2 REAL SOCIEDAD 2

Murcia produced a determined performance to twice come from behind and claim a well-deserved draw against fellow strugglers Sociedad.

The visitors took the lead against the run of play when midfielder Igor Gabilondo curled in a perfectly struck free kick from the edge of the area on 30 minutes but Murcia levelled early in the second half with a carbon copy goal from leading striker Luis Garcia.

Murcia had no time to celebrate as forward Oscar de Paula restored Sociedad's lead less than a minute later with a neat volley. However, Joaquin Peiro's side were rewarded for their persistence when David Karanka equalised once more with a fine glancing header on 69 minutes.

OSASUNA 1 REAL MADRID 1

Ronaldo came to the rescue for Real with a 74th-minute strike that allowed them to scrape a barely-deserved draw against a dominant Osasuna.

The Navarrans made a whirlwind start, taking the lead after 11 minutes when Ivory Coast striker Ibrahima Bakayoko checked inside Ivan Helguera and fired a left-foot shot past goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

They enjoyed a host of further scoring chances but were unable to finish them off and ultimately paid the price when David Beckham threaded a perfect through pass to the feet of Ronaldo, who outsprinted the Osasuna defence and then tucked home to score his 10th goal of the season.

VALENCIA 3 REAL ZARAGOZA 2

Valencia looked as though they might run away with it as they raced into a 3-0 lead by halftime but they had to endure a nervous finish after Zaragoza fought their way back to make it 3-2 with just over 10 minutes to go.

Jorge Lopez opened the scoring for Valencia with a superb individual effort, Vicente clipped in soon after when he picked up a rebound from a Pablo Aimar shot and the gifted Argentine weighed in himself with a spectacular curler on the stroke of halftime.

But Zaragoza made sure of an exciting finish when they hit back after the break with well worked strikes from centre forward David Villa and midfielder Cani.