Primera Liga reports

Brief reports of Primera Liga matches played at the weekend:

DEPORTIVO CORUNA 2 REAL SOCIEDAD 2

The Galicians looked to be on their way to an easy victory after going 2-0 up in the first half hour through Albert Luque's thundering shot and a header from fellow forward Pedro Munitis.

Sociedad pulled one back five minutes later with a powerfully hit free kick from Turkish forward Nihat Kahveci and equalised early in the second when forward Darko Kovacevic scored with a trademark header.

Sociedad midfielder Valery Karpin was sent off late in the second half after picking up a second booking for time wasting.

MALAGA 0 ALBACETE 2

A fourth defeat in a row for Malaga saw the Andalucians replace Albacete in the relegation zone and drew fierce protests from the home crowd at La Rosaleda.

French midfielder Laurent Viaud drilled in from 12 metres to give Albacete the lead in the ninth minute and Momo made sure of the win when he raced through to the edge of the area and steered home past keeper Juan Calatayud.

NUMANCIA 2 REAL ZARAGOZA 1

Numancia managed only their third win of the season thanks to a first-half double from Aldo Osorio.

The Argentine forward powered a header in at the near post after a looping cross from Antonio in the 10th minute and got a second with another header just after the half hour.

Zaragoza centre-back Gabriel Milito pulled one back for the visitors eight minutes before halftime when he nodded in a Jose Maria Movilla cross.

OSASUNA 4 SEVILLA 1

The Navarrans moved into the upper reaches of the table and delivered a morale-sapping blow to an out-of-form Sevilla, who have only won one of their last five games.

Midfielder Inaki Munoz drilled home from 10 metres to open for Osasuna on 21 minutes, but pint-sized Sevilla striker Carlitos levelled before the break with a fine glancing header.

Cameroon striker Pierre Webo put the home side in front again 12 minutes into the second half when he nodded in from close range and Uruguayan international Richard Morales grabbed his third goal in three games with another header.

Moroccan midfielder Moha wrapped up the win when he robbed the ball on the left, checked past defender Pablo Alfaro and squeezed a shot past Esteban at the near post.

REAL BETIS 2 VILLARREAL 1

Betis striker Ricardo Oliveira took his tally for the season to eight when he grabbed a first half double that helped his side extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches.

The Brazilian notched his first when he drilled home a first-time shot midway through the half and he helped himself to a second with a volley after Villarreal keeper Pepe Reina palmed a Juan Jose Canas shot into his path.

Villarreal forward Antonio Guayre pulled one back 10 minutes after the break when he guided into the empty net after Jose Mari had clipped the ball over Betis keeper Antonio Doblas.

REAL MADRID 5 LEVANTE 0

A somewhat flattering scoreline for Real, who had struggled to impose themselves on the visitors in the first half but then floored their opponents with some devastating finishing.

Real burst into life two minutes before the break when Ronaldo fired in at the near post after a precision pass from David Beckham and put the result beyond doubt with a three-goal salvo in the space of five second-half minutes.

Figo made it 2-0 when he let fly from 30 metres, Ronaldo grabbed his second after some neat control and Beckham delivered a spectacular fourth in the 55th minute.

Substitute Michael Owen completed the rout three minutes from time after a brilliant through-ball from Guti.

VALENCIA 2 REAL MALLORCA 0

The champions finally appear to be getting back on track after notching a second victory in row even though they are still far from their fluent best.

Italian defender Emiliano Moretti scored his first league goal for the club when he rose above a forest of Mallorca players to head in from a corner on the half hour.

Midfielder Ruben Baraja made it 2-0 midway through the second half, stabbing in from close range after David Navarro headed back across the face of goal after another set piece.

It was a disappointing return to the Mestalla for former Valencia coach Hector Cuper whose present side drop to the bottom of the table after this defeat.

Played Saturday:

ATHLETIC BILBAO 3 RACING SANTANDER 0

Athletic eased concerns about their poor start to the season with this classy win over the Cantabrians at San Mames.

Santi Ezquerro opened with a delightful chip in the seventh minute and fellow midfielder Carlos Gurpegi made it 2-0 midway through the half when he got behind the Racing defence to nod home after a Fran Yeste free kick.

Centre-forward Ismael Urzaiz wrapped up a comfortable win just past the hour mark when he scored his eighth goal of the season with a trademark header.

ESPANYOL 2 ATLETICO MADRID 1

Former Barcelona striker Dani helped himself to a second-half double to give Espanyol a narrow win that kept the Catalans riding high in the standings.

Dani put his side ahead from the penalty spot eight minutes into the second half after Atletico defender Sergi was penalised for a foul on Argentine forward Maxi Rodriguez.

Atletico hit back three minutes later as Nano caught keeper Carlos Kameni off guard with a curling free kick from the right side of the area, but Dani took advantage of a fine through-ball from Ivan de la Pena to grab the winner 15 minutes from time.

GETAFE 1 BARCELONA 2

Barca cemented their hold on the leadership with an important away win but they had to work hard to hold off a spirited Getafe in the second half.

The Catalans appeared to be in full control at the break after a fierce free kick from Mexican international Rafael Marquez and a well struck finish from Portugal midfielder Deco had put them 2-0 up after 23 minutes.

But an opportunist strike by substitute Gica Craioveanu just before the hour sparked a Getafe fightback that was only curtailed when the Romanian was dismissed for some shirt tugging on Deco seven minutes from time.