Primera Liga reports

Brief reports of Primera Liga matches played on Sunday:

ATHLETIC BILBAO 1 ALBACETE 1

The sides converted a penalty apiece in a draw that should ensure Albacete remain in the top flight and one that keeps Athletic on course for a place in next season's UEFA Cup.

Uruguayan striker Antonio Pacheco put Albacete ahead with his spot kick early in the second half after Fernando Navarro went down in the area, but young midfielder Andoni Iraola equalised with his penalty after Navarro handballed four minutes from time.

ESPANYOL 2 DEPORTIVO CORUNA 0

A vital win that lifts Luis Fernandez's side out of the relegation zone for the first time in eight months and means Depor are unlikely to be able to make a bid for the runners-up spot in the league.

Argentine defender Mauricio Pochettino opened for the home side when he clipped in past Jose Molina after midfielder Ivan de la Pena had beaten the offside trap with a clever lofted pass in the eighth minute.

It was former Barca player De la Pena who secured the victory when he guided in after Mustapha Hadji tipped the ball into his path after Molina had been unable to gather a cross 16 minutes from time.

MALAGA 1 MURCIA 0

Malaga remained in the running for a place in next season's UEFA Cup with his narrow win over already relegated Murcia.

Leading scorer Salva Ballesta had a goal ruled out for offside early in the second half, but 15 minutes later midfielder Miguel Angel grabbed the winner when he headed in from a corner.

RACING SANTANDER 2 ATLETICO MADRID 2

Struggling Racing earned a vital point that kept them three points above the relegation zone thanks to a last-gasp header from Israeli forward Omri Afek, while the draw was enough to allow Atletico to hold on to a UEFA Cup berth.

Atletico took the lead when Argentine midfielder Ariel Ibagaza bobbled the ball into the net in the 26th minute after a clever assist from Fernando Torres.

But they were reduced to 10 men five minutes later when midfielder Alvaro Novo picked up two quick-fire bookings and Racing made them pay when Cristian Alvarez equalised with a brilliantly struck free kick early in the second half.

Atletico took the lead again two minutes later when midfielder Gonzalo de los Santos headed in an Ibagaza free kick, but they could not hold out as Racing laid siege to their goal in the dying minutes.

REAL ZARAGOZA 1 OSASUNA 0

A last-gasp strike from Alvaro gave Cup winners Zaragoza a win that kept them three points clear of the relegation zone but provided a severe dent to Osasuna's hopes of earning a place in next season's UEFA Cup.

Osasuna had the best chances of the game but the Brazilian centre-back snapped up a loose ball on the edge of the area and drilled it home to earn his side three priceless points.

SEVILLA 0 VALENCIA 2

Valencia took full advantage of Real Madrid's slip-up at home to Mallorca to win the title with a typically slick and highly determined performance against an ambitious Sevilla.

Man-of-the-match Vicente, who has been outstanding all season, opened after just 12 minutes when he raced on to a neat back-heeled pass from Xisco, fended off a challenge from Sevilla defender Javi Navarro and drilled home past keeper Esteban.

Valencia had to endure some nervous moments in the second half as Sevilla pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Ruben Baraja made sure of a second title in three seasons when he scored in the final minute of normal time after another sharp pass from Xisco.

VALLADOLID 2 REAL SOCIEDAD 2

Valladolid finished an incident-packed game with just eight men after Bolivian defender Juan Manuel Pena and midfielders Chema and Pablo Richetti all received their marching orders.

Sociedad took the lead when midfielder Igor Gabilondo guided in after keeper Albano Bizzarri had spilled a fierce shot from Turkish forward Nihat Kahveci.

Four minutes later Bizzarri hit the post after the referee decided Sociedad defender Bjorn Tore Kvarme had handled the ball in the area, but team mate Fernando Sales was on hand to smack home the rebound.

Valladolid fell behind once again when Nihat toe-poked home and it could have been worse had midfielder Valery Karpin not fluffed a penalty before the break, but Sales grabbed the equaliser when he headed in a free kick 19 minutes from time.

VILLARREAL 1 REAL BETIS 0

Villarreal put their disappointment at losing their UEFA Cup semi-final to local rivals Valencia with a win that could help them secure a place in next year's competition.

Forward Jose Mari latched on to a neat through pass from Juan Roman Riquelme cut inside a defender and cracked in past Toni Prats midway through the second half.

Played Saturday:

CELTA VIGO 1 BARCELONA 0

Barcelona's 17-match winning run came to an end when the struggling Galicians produced an inspired defensive display to clinch a win that gives them renewed hope of avoiding the drop.

Brazilian midfielder Edu struck the winner when he curled a low shot inside the post from the edge of the area after a neatly worked move two minutes before the break.

Celta should have gone two up in the second half but Barca keeper Victor Valdes tipped a Peter Luccin penalty on to the post after Edu had been brought down in the area.

REAL MADRID 2 REAL MALLORCA 3

Real handed the title to Valencia when they slumped to their fourth defeat in five matches with his humiliating loss at home to the islanders who are close to securing their top-flight status.

Former Real Madrid player Samuel Eto'o was the star of the show with two brilliant solo goals in the first half, Alejandro Campano adding the third with a clever free kick.

Francisco Pavon had briefly brought Madrid level at 1-1 while Luis Figo made it 3-2 with a penalty five minutes into the second half but overall it was a poor show by the home side.