Primera Liga reports

Reports of Primera Liga matches played on Sunday:

ATLETICO MADRID 3 ATHLETIC BILBAO 0

Atletico left it late but in the end did more than enough for a victory that takes them into the fourth Champions League qualification place.

Bilbao's Francisco Yeste missed from the penalty spot after Ismael Urzaiz had gone down in the area in one of the few clear chances of the first half.

The game looked set to end in a tame draw before Fernando Torres headed in off the crossbar after 73 minutes.

Torres added a second from the spot in the 82nd minute following a foul on Kizito Musampa and Veljko Paunovic came off the bench to net the third in injury-time.

BARCELONA 3 REAL ZARAGOZA 0

Barcelona turned in their most polished performance for a long while to claim a much needed victory.

Javier Saviola headed in an Andres Iniesta cross for the first after 24 minutes and Ronaldinho made it 2-0 with a penalty in first-half injury-time after Luis Garcia had been brought down. Xavi rounded off the scoring from another Iniesta cross after 65 minutes.

DEPORTIVO CORUNA 1 RACING SANTANDER 1

Deportivo missed the chance to close up on the leaders as Racing came from behind to take a well deserved point.

Depor, the only team apart from the top two in with a realistic chance of taking the title, went ahead just before halftime with a cracking Albert Luque free kick.

Javier Irureta's side had plenty of chances to add to their lead but a spectacular lob from Javi Guerrero provided Racing with a draw in the 77th minute.

MURCIA 0 ESPANYOL 1

Espanyol claimed a valuable away win from this relegation battle thanks to an early goal from Maxi Rodriguez, who stole in front of a flat-footed defence to strike in the 11th minute. Murcia's task was complicated when Jose Luis Acciari received his second yellow card for a tug on Ivan de la Pena with just 26 minutes gone.

OSASUNA 1 SEVILLA 1

Osasuna played badly but managed to dig out a point that keeps them in the hunt for a Champions League place. Julio Cesar Baptista put Seville ahead early in the second half after being teed up by German Hornos but Pablo Garcia equalised seven minutes from time with a curling free kick.

The Osasuna defence cleared a Baptista header off the line in the final minute to safeguard the draw.

REAL BETIS 3 MALAGA 0

Betis warmed up for next week's clash with Real Madrid with a classy victory featuring a candidate for goal of the season from Alfonso.

The former Barcelona striker snaked his way past three defenders on a run in from the left touchline and beat the keeper with a deflected shot for 1-0 after eight minutes.

Joaquin added a second four minutes after the break with a right-foot finish and the Spanish international winger's weak shot was steered in by Marcelo Romero for an own goal on the hour mark.

VILLARREAL 3 VALLADOLID 1

Villarreal stepped up their bid for a place in Europe next season with this win. Jose Mari headed in for the first five minutes before the break but Valladolid equalised in the 65th minute when Ariza Makukula shot through Pepe Reina's legs.

The game was wide open but Victor headed in at the second attempt for 2-1 after 72 minutes and Roger chested the ball down and hooked in for the third late on.

Played Saturday:

ALBACETE 0 VALENCIA 1

Valencia's victory, coupled with a defeat for Real Madrid, took them top of the table at the halfway stage of the season and gave them the honorary title of winter champions.

Valencia scored in the ninth minute when Jorge Lopez squeezed a controversial penalty in at Manuel Almunia's right-hand post after Pablo Aimar went down on the edge of the box.

Albacete had plenty of chances to equalise but Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares pulled off a couple of outstanding saves and the visitors held on.

REAL MALLORCA 2 CELTA VIGO 4

Celta took advantage of a harsh sending-off midway through the second half to emerge as comfortable winners and move out of the relegation zone.

Arnold Bruggink opened the scoring for Mallorca and added a second for the islanders with a penalty in first-half injury time after Jose Ignacio had grabbed an equaliser.

A red card for Brazilian midfielder Nene for a foul on Savo Milosevic after 67 minutes changed the game.

Jesuli nodded in a Sylvinho cross for 2-2, a Peter Luccin penalty put Celta ahead five minutes from time and Milosevic finished off a counter-attack for the fourth in injury time.

REAL SOCIEDAD 1 REAL MADRID 0

Real Madrid suffered their third defeat of the league campaign, and lost the leadership to Valencia into the bargain, as they were beaten by a more committed Sociedad side.

After a poor first half, Carlos Queiroz's team looked to be gaining control but Sociedad got the winner in the 63rd minute when Iker Casillas dropped a cross at the feet of Valery Karpin, who tucked the ball home.