Primera Liga reports

Brief reports of Primera Liga soccer matches played on Sunday:

ATHLETIC BILBAO 1 OSASUNA 1

Osasuna continued their challenge for the final Champions League slot with a hard-earned 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao.

Midfielder Jose Izquierdo gave the Navarrans the lead when he drilled home with a fierce first-time shot after a well worked passing move on 35 minutes.

But Bilbao equalised in the final minute of the first half, defender Asier del Horno sliding in at the far post to poke home a shot from Luis Prieto that had ricocheted its way through a forest of defenders after a short-corner routine.

ESPANYOL 2 REAL MALLORCA 0

Skipper Raul Tamudo grabbed a classy double that allowed basement side Espanyol to end their five-match losing streak with a home win over an out-of-sorts Mallorca.

The abrasive striker gave his side the perfect start with a terrific drive into the top corner with just 20 seconds on the clock and made sure of victory with another great finish, clipping home after sprinting on to a superb through ball from Ivan de la Pena 15 minutes from time.

Mallorca striker Samuel Eto'o, who raced back from international duty with Cameroon to play the match, had a rare off-day and was dismissed 11 minutes from time for arguing with the referee.

MALAGA 1 REAL SOCIEDAD 2

Real Sociedad hauled themselves out of the relegation zone after coming from behind to claim their first win in 10 outings against Malaga.

Defender Litos put the home side ahead with a well-taken glancing header midway through the first half, but Sociedad got back on level terms six minutes from halftime when Russian midfielder Valery Karpin dinked in with a neat chip.

Live-wire Turkish forward Nihat Kahveci, who had supplied the pass for Karpin's goal, grabbed the winner just before the break when he sent a brilliant dipping free kick over a wall of Malaga players and past despairing keeper Juan Calatayud.

RACING SANTANDER 3 BARCELONA 0

Barca continued their slide down the table after this heavy defeat against a lively Racing, who made the most of another nervous performance from Turkish international keeper Rustu Recber to claim a somewhat flattering victory.

Frank Rijkaard's side missed a host of early chances and were made to pay early in the second half when Racing defender Juanma poked in after Rustu spilled a Mario Regueiro free kick.

The Uruguayan winger added a second 10 minutes from time with a classy chip when he saw Rustu off his line. Striker Javi Guerrero delivered the final blow with a close-range header after he had burst through the Barca defence.

SEVILLA 2 ALBACETE 0

Sevilla took full advantage of their numerical superiority against an undisciplined Albacete, who finished the game with nine men.

Brazilian striker Julio Baptista opened the scoring late in the first half when he got his head to a Jose Antonio Reyes cross two minutes after Albacete defender Miguel Buades had been dismissed for handing off Dario Silva.

Albacete lost striker Carlos Aranda in the final minute of the game after he picked up a second booking for diving and Sevilla wasted no time in making them pay, super-sub Antonito finishing off a slick break by guiding in at the far post.

VALLADOLID 0 REAL BETIS 0

Neither side proved capable of taking advantage of their chances in a grey encounter in foggy conditions.

Valladolid failed to make their early domination pay with defender Oscar heading against the post and striker Roberto Losada missing from point-blank range.

An out-of-form Betis returned the favour in the second half, Capi heading wide with the goal at his mercy and fellow midfielder Arzu seeing his goal-bound shot tipped over the bar by keeper Albano Bizzarri.

VALENCIA 4 VILLARREAL 2

Valencia produced a devastating second-half display to fight their way back from a goal down and ensure they kept the pressure on Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme put Villarreal ahead with a sweetly struck free kick in the first half, but the game was turned on its head when Valencia midfielders Ruben Baraja and Pablo Aimar scored two quick-fire goals early in the second.

Villarreal suffered a further setback when Sergio Ballesteros was sent off for a foul on Carlos Marchena and Baraja took full advantage to grab his second on 73 minutes.

Benito Floro's well-drilled side refused to fold, however, and hit back with a neatly crafted effort from defender Juliano Belletti before Valencia added their fourth with a close-range effort from leading striker Mista.

Played Saturday:

CELTA VIGO 0 DEPORTIVO CORUNA 5

Deportivo stayed in touch with the leaders and left Celta Vigo in deeper relegation trouble with an outstanding victory.

Albert Luque latched on to a pass from Juan Carlos Valeron to open the scoring on the break after 17 minutes and Victor scored a similar goal on the counter-attack to make it 2-0 just before halftime.

Victor completed his hat-trick with a neat shot and then a deflection that baffled hapless keeper Pablo Cavallero under his own bar and Diego Tristan rounded off the night with a fifth four minutes from time.

REAL MADRID 1 MURCIA 0

Leaders Real went ahead with a Raul tap-in after nine minutes but then had to work a lot harder than expected to claim a fifth successive league win.

Murcia missed several clear chances early in the second half and Luis Garcia hit the bar with a free kick five minutes from time but Real held on.

REAL ZARAGOZA 0 ATLETICO MADRID 0

Atletico, hoping to move three points clear in the fourth Champions League place, were forced to settle for a draw against hard-working Zaragoza in a game dominated by two well-organised defences.

Although they had less of the possession, Atletico looked more dangerous in attack, but strike pairing Veljko Paunovic and Fernando Torres were effectively held by Zaragoza centre backs Alvaro and Gabriel Milito.