Primera Liga reports

Brief reports of Primera Liga matches played on Sunday:

ALBACETE 3 REAL ZARAGOZA 1

Albacete took a major step towards ensuring their survival in the top flight with this win over their fellow strugglers.

They got off to the perfect start when striker Carlos Aranda scored in the third minute with a cool finish and Uruguayan forward Antonio Pacheco made it 2-0 with a well executed header early in the second half.

Zaragoza pulled one back when defender Cesar Rebosio let fly with a 35-metre rocket-shot 15 minutes from time, but Albacete midfielder Mikel restored his side's advantage.

BARCELONA 4 ESPANYOL 1

Barca stretched their unbeaten run to 17 games and moved to within a point of Real Madrid when they came from a goal down to claim this sparkling win over their struggling neighbours.

Striker Raul Tamudo put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot on 18 minutes, but Ronaldinho produced another virtuoso display to help steer his side towards victory.

The Brazilian equalised with a fine glancing header on 35 minutes and then provided an exquisite backheel assist for Javier Saviola to put the Catalans ahead at halftime.

Dutch defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst extended the lead when he curled in after a superbly worked passing move and Saviola completed the rout when he poked in at the far post after a Michael Reiziger pass before the hour was up.

MURCIA 2 VALLADOLID 1

Valladolid's decision to dismiss coach Fernando Vazquez earlier in the week backfired when they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at relegated Murcia and they now find themselves in deep trouble.

The visitors went ahead just after the half hour when defender Jonathan got his foot to a free kick from team mate Pablo Richetti, but Murcia equalised three minutes later when Argentine defender Jose Luis Acciari headed in from a corner.

Midfielder Luis Garcia drilled in from the edge of the area four minutes from time to give John Toshack's side their fourth win of the season.

OSASUNA 1 RACING SANTANDER 2

Racing pulled four points clear of the danger zone with this hard-earned win and at the same time dealt a blow to Osasuna's hopes of earning a place in UEFA Cup.

Patxi Punal put the Navarrans ahead from the penalty spot early in the second half after Uruguayan forward Richard Morales was brought down in the area, but Cristian Alvarez equalised with a superbly struck free kick eight minutes later. Israeli forward Omri Afek's late header earned his side a vital win.

REAL MALLORCA 2 MALAGA 1

Mallorca striker Samuel Eto'o celebrated being named African Player of the Year by scoring both his side's goals in a precious win that will go a long way towards securing their future in the top flight.

The Cameroon international, who paraded his award before the game, opened the scoring with a coolly taken goal when he guided the ball past keeper Francesc Arnau after an error by the Malaga defence midway through the first half.

Salva Ballesta equalised for Malaga on the hour, but Eto'o scored the winner when he stubbed the ball past Arnau seven minutes later.

REAL SOCIEDAD 2 VILLARREAL 2

Sociedad twice came from behind to earn a valuable point that keeps them clear of the drop zone, but that was not enough to put an end to their relegation fears.

UEFA Cup semi-finalists Villarreal took an early lead when Jose Mari stabbed in on the turn after a corner on 12 minutes, but the Basque side levelled the game just before the break with a powerful header from Argentine defender Gabriel Schurrer.

Jose Mari grabbed his second and restored his side's lead at the start of the second half when he raced on to a through ball checked past a defender and drilled low past keeper Alberto, but midfielder Igor Gabilondo earned the home side a point with a well struck volley just after the hour.

SEVILLA 2 ATHLETIC BILBAO 0

Sevilla striker Julio Baptista continued his prolific run of form when he took his total for the season to 18 after scoring both his side's goals in a victory that put the Andalucians right back in the hunt for a UEFA Cup place.

The Brazilian opened with an unstoppable header when the Bilbao defence failed to pick him up after a corner late in the first half and added a second with a perfectly struck penalty after the break.

VALENCIA 2 REAL BETIS 0

Valencia pulled four points clear of title rivals Real and took a major stride towards the championship with this emphatic win over the Andalucians.

Rafa Benitez's side subjected their opponents to intense pressure throughout and their hard work paid off when defender Curro Torres poked home after an error in the Betis defence nine minutes from the break.

Midfielder Ruben Baraja made sure of the win when he curled in past keeper Toni Prats early in the second half after substitute Pablo Aimar had broken free down the right and cut a neat pass into his team mate's path on the edge of the area.

Played Saturday:

ATLETICO MADRID 3 CELTA VIGO 2

Atletico renewed their bid for a place in the UEFA Cup with this victory over struggling Celta, whose defender Eduardo Berizzo was sent off two minutes from time for bringing down substitute Demis Nikolaidis.

Atletico got off to a flying start with two quick-fire goals inside the first six minutes, midfielder Nano cracking home and Fernando Torres smashing in from close range after a free kick.

Celta pulled one back just after the half hour with a Savo Milosevic header, but Atletico restored their two-goal cushion seven minutes later after defender Jose Antonio Garcia Calvo poked the ball in on the turn.

There was no let up in the frantic pace after the break and Celta narrowed the gap once again when Brazilian midfielder Edu touched the ball home midway through the half, but the Galicians were unable to scramble the point they so desperately needed.

DEPORTIVO CORUNA 2 REAL MADRID 0

Depor dealt a severe blow to the title hopes of Real, who were reduced to 10 men when Zinedine Zidane was dismissed just before the break for a needless foul on Brazilian midfielder Djalminha.

Real dominated for much of the game and hit the post three times, but Depor gave them a harsh lesson in finishing with excellent goals from Diego Tristan and Joan Capdevila.

Tristan scored with a precise shot on the half hour after Real keeper Iker Casillas had parried the ball into his path and Capdevila made sure of the win with a scorching 30-metre free kick midway through the second half.