Primera Liga reports

Brief reports of matches played in the Primera Liga at the weekend:

Played on Sunday:

ATLETICO MADRID 1 REAL ZARAGOZA 1

Atletico scrambled a late draw at home against a dominant Zaragoza thanks to a well-taken strike from Salva Ballesta.

The former Valencia player hooked in from a tight angle eight minutes from time after Zaragoza goalkeeper Luis Garcia had tipped away a goalbound header from substitute Braulio.

In-form Brazilian winger Savio got Zaragoza off to a flying start when he cracked a goal after a slick one-two with fellow forward David Villa in the second minute, but the visitors were made to pay for some wasteful finishing when Salva grabbed his late equaliser.

GETAFE 1 VALENCIA 0

Valencia coach Claudio Ranieri will come under intense pressure after his side continued their miserable run of form with this defeat at lowly Getafe.

Last season's champions, who had not won in their previous eight outings in all competitions, were unable to cope with their determined and ambitious opponents who claimed the win thanks to a first-half strike from Michel.

The midfielder sent a miscued shot in at the near post from a free kick in the 19th minute after a two-man wall had split open to the dismay of Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares.

LEVANTE 1 ATHLETIC BILBAO 0

Surprise package of the season Levante moved up to third place in the table after a fourth win in five home games thanks to a close range finish from defender Jesule in the 68th minute.

An evenly balanced match turned Levante's way when Bilbao were reduced to 10 men after defender Luis Prieto was sent off for bringing down striker Sergio Garcia as he raced towards goal just after the break.

MALAGA 0 REAL MADRID 2

Substitute Michael Owen came off the bench to notch his fifth goal in six outings to help secure a valuable away win that put them into second place in the table behind arch-rivals Barcelona.

Real took the lead in the 24th minute when Luis Figo netted from the penalty spot after Zinedine Zidane had been brought down by Gerardo on the edge of the area.

But it was Owen who provided the stand-out moment of the match when he controlled with his chest, shimmied inside a defender and drilled home with his left just eight minutes after replacing an off-form Ronaldo in the second half.

RACING SANTANDER 2 NUMANCIA 0

A third win in a row for Racing, who outgunned basement side Numancia at El Sardinero thanks to second-half strikes from midfielder Fernando Moran and striker Javi Guerrero.

Moran opened when he made the most of an excellent back-heel assist from David Aganzo to slot home from close range and Guerrero added a second with a curling left-foot finish after a defence-splitting pass from Israeli international Yossi Benayoun four minutes from time.

REAL SOCIEDAD 0 ESPANYOL 2

Maxi Rodriguez helped Espanyol temporarily forget the bad news that last season's leading scorer Raul Tamudo will be out for the next six weeks by grabbing both goals in this victory over troubled Sociedad.

The Argentine striker smashed home from the edge of the area after he pounced on a loose pass by Sociedad midfielder Mikel Arteta early in the second half and completed his double when he drilled home from 20 metres out after an earlier shot fell into his path in the 75th minute.

SEVILLA 1 REAL MALLORCA 1

Mallorca coach Hector Cuper will have been encouraged by his side's gutsy performance as they came from behind to earn a valuable away point in his first match in charge.

Sevilla took the lead when winger Antonio Lopez drilled in under keeper Sander Westerveld after a neat assist from Julio Baptista.

But the visitors fought back hard and grabbed a hard-earned point when Argentine midfielder Guillermo Pereyra headed home a Luis Garcia free kick a minute from time.

VILLARREAL 3 OSASUNA 0

Midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme was the star of the show as Villarreal outclassed the Navarrans and kept yet another clean sheet at El Madrigal.

He put his side ahead from the penalty spot in the 38th minute after Jose Mari had been brought down when he ran on to a disguised pass from the Argentine.

He then played a part in the second two minutes later when he supplied the cross for fellow countryman Gonzalo Rodriguez to nod home with a fine glancing header.

The former Barcelona player completed his masterclass with a delightful chip after the highly rated Hector Font threaded a perfect pass between the Osasuna back four.

Played on Saturday:

BARCELONA 2 DEPORTIVO CORUNA 1

Barca still looked to be suffering from the after-effects of their exertions during their dazzling 2-1 Champions League win over AC Milan when they fell behind to a fine strike from Depor midfielder Fran in the seventh minute.

But the Catalans were quick to respond and got back on level terms midway through the first half when Xavi picked his spot from 10 metres after some good work by Brazilian defender Juliano Belletti on the right.

Leading scorer Samuel Eto'o notched the winner and took his tally for the season to nine goals when he ran the ball into the net after Ludovic Giuly had got behind the Depor defence 10 minutes before the break.

ALBACETE 0 REAL BETIS 0

Albacete can count themselves unlucky not to have won this one against a toothless Betis, but a combination of poor finishing and some brilliant keeping from Betis goalie Antonio Doblas prevented them from recording what would have been a valuable victory.

Doblas made a fine reflex save to deny Albacete striker Ruben Castro early in the first half and then tipped a swerving goal-bound shot from Uruguayan international Antonio Pacheco over the bar midway through the second.