Primera Liga reports

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

ESPANYOL 1 MALAGA 0

Espanyol showed their midweek defeat at Getafe was a mere hiccup as they notched up a third win of the season with a hard-fought victory over the Andalucians.

In-form midfielder Ivan de la Pena scored the winner six minutes into the second half when he slotted home from close range after Raul Tamudo headed a Maxi Rodriguez cross into his path.

NUMANCIA 0 ALBACETE 0

An entirely forgettable encounter at Los Pajaritos as both sides paid more attention to avoiding defeat than searching for victory.

Albacete defender Miquel Buades hit the crossbar in the first half, but it was the closest either side came to a scoring a goal in a game that was dominated by defensive play.

OSASUNA 2 GETAFE 1

Osasuna were made to work hard against a combative Getafe, who were in good spirits after gaining their first points of the season with a midweek victory over Espanyol.

Moroccan midfielder Moha put Osasuna in front in the 21st minute when he chested down a neat headed layoff from John Aloisi and drilled home at the near post.

Savo Milosevic extended the lead with a brilliantly placed glancing header from the edge of the area in the 44th minute, but Sergio Pachon pulled one back for Getafe with a cracking 25-metre shot just before the break.

REAL MALLORCA 1 BARCELONA 3

A triumphant return to Son Moix for Samuel Eto'o as the African Player of the Year notched two goals in Barca's easy win over his former club.

Henrik Larsson atoned for an early miss when he steered in a miscued shot from Xavi after 10 minutes and Eto'o made it 2-0 when he netted from the penalty spot after Mallorca defender Sergio Ballesteros had collided with Ronaldinho in the area.

Eto'o added a third before the break when he picked up a sharp pass from Larsson, lobbed the ball over keeper Miguel Moya and guided it into the empty net.

Andrija Delibasic scored a late consolation for the islanders after a neat assist from fellow striker Luis Garcia, but Barca were never in danger.

REAL ZARAGOZA 4 LEVANTE 3

Zaragoza twice came from behind to claim a thrilling victory and join a pack of five teams chasing leading duo Barcelona and Valencia.

Bulgarian striker Vladimir Manchev nodded in from close range to put Levante ahead in the first half, but Zaragoza levelled when striker David Villa converted a controversial penalty nine minutes later.

Manchev grabbed his second to restore Levante's lead before the break, but a well-taken double from former Atletico Madrid striker Javi Moreno and a great strike from Brazilian winger Savio gave Zaragoza 4-2 lead midway through the second half.

Swiss midfielder Fabio Celestini set up a grandstand finish when he headed in from a corner 14 minutes from time.

SEVILLA 2 REAL SOCIEDAD 1

Sevilla came from a goal down to claim a victory over winless Sociedad and ensure they kept pace with the chasing pack.

Brazilian defender Adriano Rossato put Sociedad in front in the 33rd minute when he fired an unstoppable missile into the top corner after Mikel Aranburu had rolled the ball into his patch from a free kick on the right-hand-side of the area.

But Sevilla were back on level terms before halftime when Sergio Ramos scored with a deflected shot after another free kick and the young defender helped create the winner midway through the second half when his cross was steered into the net by striker Dario Silva.

VALENCIA 2 RACING SANTANDER 0

Valencia followed up their 5-1 midweek destruction of Deportivo Coruna with an easy win over 10-man Racing that kept them top of the table.

The champions took the lead midway through the first half when winger Vicente saw his free kick take a wild deflection off the wall and wrong-foot keeper Dudu Aouate.

Racing defender Oriol was sent off in the 44th minute after picking up a second booking and Valencia took immediate advantage when Italian midfielder Stefano Fiore rifled home from five metres out after good work from Vicente.

Played Saturday:

ATLETICO MADRID 1 VILLARREAL 0

Striker Salva Ballesta scored his first goal since returning to Atletico on loan from Valencia to give his side a valuable victory against winless Villarreal at the Calderon.

Villarreal dominated the first half but Ballesta netted with a powerful header just before the break after a fine cross from Dutch midfielder Kizito Musampa

Neither side took control in the second half but Atletico endured a nervous finale when defender Luis Perea was dismissed after picking up a second booking four minutes from time.

ATHLETIC BILBAO 2 REAL MADRID 1

No respite for a trouble-torn Real Madrid, who slipped to a second defeat in three league games against a classy Athletic who thoroughly deserved their first win of the season.

Centre-forward Ismael Urzaiz put the Basques in front when he slotted home a cross from Asier del Horno in the 11th minute and midfielder Santi Ezquerro extended the lead on the stroke of halftime, heading in after another assist from Del Horno.

Real pulled a goal back at the start of the second half when kipper Raul scoring his first goal in six months with a well-struck curler from the edge of the area, but they never threatened to come back as Athletic continued to dominate.

DEPORTIVO CORUNA 1 REAL BETIS 1

Deportivo went some way towards erasing the memory of their 5-1 thrashing at home to champions Valencia when they came from a goal down to claim their first point at the Riazor.

Betis took the lead against the run of play when former Valencia striker Ricardo Oliveira slotted home after an excellent through ball from Fernando on 67 minutes.

The Galicians refused to let their heads drop, however, and were rewarded when midfielder Victor slammed home a rebound after Betis keeper Toni Prats failed to hold a fierce drive from Juan Carlos Valeron.