Primera Liga reports

Brief reports of Primera Liga matches played on Wednesday:

ALBACETE 2 VILLARREAL 2

Uruguayan striker Antonio Pacheco put Albacete ahead when he guided in from five metres after 16 minutes but Villarreal hit back with two quick-fire goals near the end of the half.

Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan notched the first when he lobbed the ball over keeper Ronald Gasperic and then provided a perfect cross for fellow forward Antonio Guayre to head in from close range.

But the visitors threw away their advantage when defender Rodolfo Arruabarrena was dismissed seven minutes from time and Pacheco cashed in to grab his second with a deflected shot.

ATHLETIC BILBAO 4 REAL MALLORCA 0

Athletic followed up their 7-1 thrashing of Standard Liege in the UEFA Cup and their first away win of the season with a comprehensive victory over Hector Cuper's strugglers.

Midfielder Fran Yeste opened the scoring with a rare headed goal and then provided the assist for the in-form Santi Ezquerro to clip in his sixth goal in the space of the week five minutes later.

Carlos Gurpegi made it 3-0 after Joseba Etxeberria had sprung the offside trap with a neat chipped pass and Yeste completed the rout with an injury-time penalty.

DEPORTIVO CORUNA 2 REAL ZARAGOZA 3

Zaragoza claimed their first win in eight games after they fought their way back from 2-1 down against an out-of-sorts Deportivo who were reduced to 10 men with the sending off of midfielder Lionel Scaloni three minutes from time.

Midfielder Cani put the visitors ahead with a delightful lob, but a well-taken header from defender Pablo Amo and a neat left-foot finish from Albert Luque allowed Depor to turn the tables early in the second half.

Depor spurned several chances to extend their lead and Zaragoza took advantage to secure the win, defender Gabriel Milito netting with a clever header on 56 minutes and striker David Villa nodding in another after a great pass from Cani.

GETAFE 2 RACING SANTANDER 0

The Primera Liga newcomers claimed their first win in six outings thanks to a neat double from striker Riki.

The former Real Madrid youth team player got his side off to a flying start when he poked in from close range on five minutes after some great work by Romanian forward Gica Craioveanu.

He grabbed his second just after the half hour when he threaded the ball past keeper Dudu Aouate after pouncing on the rebound from a Gabi shot.

MALAGA 1 REAL SOCIEDAD 5

Sociedad continued their impressive revival with this crushing victory over a sorry-looking Malaga, who have now lost seven of their last eight games.

Darko Kovacevic put the Basque side ahead with a trademark header on 12 minutes, but the Andalucians equalised when defender Vicente Valcarce netted just before halftime.

It was one-way traffic in the second half, Kovacevic notched his second with another great header six minutes after the break, defender Mikel Labaka nodded in from a corner soon after and Turkish forward Nihat Kahveci weighed in with two classy strikes before the end.

Malaga's misery was compounded when midfielder Gerardo was sent off nine minutes from time.

OSASUNA 2 NUMANCIA 0

Richard Morales continued his prolific scoring run by taking his tally to seven goals in seven games with a top class double against basement side Numancia who have now lost all nine of their away matches this season.

The Uruguayan striker notched his first with a spectacular overhead kick early in the second half and added another when he cracked in on the turn 20 minutes later.

REAL MADRID 0 SEVILLA 1

Real ended the year on a low note when they were dealt their second home defeat of the season by an impressive Sevilla.

Brazilian striker Julio Baptista scored the winner in the 19th minute when he burst past the Real defence to race on to a neat headed pass and finished coolly be clipping the ball over keeper Iker Casillas.

It was Sevilla's first victory in the league at the Bernabeu in 20 years and had it not been for some superb last-ditch keeping from Casillas and some wasteful finishing from their forwards they would have claimed a far more handsome victory.

VALENCIA 3 ESPANYOL 0

Valencia continued their mid-season revival by extending their unbeaten run to seven matches with this emphatic win over high-flying opponents.

Midfielder Ruben Baraja put the home side ahead after 12 minutes with a ferocious 25-metre free kick and Espanyol were dealt a further blow when Raul Tamudo and Oscar Serrano were sent off for apparent dissent in the final minute of the half.

Valencia were slow to cash in on their numerical advantage, although striker Mista eventually helped himself to two goals in the final nine minutes after providing the finishing touches to two slickly worked passing moves to hand his side the victory.

Played on Tuesday:

BARCELONA 2 LEVANTE 1

Samuel Eto'o took his tally for the season to 13 goals when he struck a spectacular winner three minutes from time to give Barca a victory that ensured them of the symbolic title of winter champions.

Barca took the lead when Deco scored with a deflected free kick just before the half hour, but an ambitious Levante equalised when midfielder Jofre completed a slick move with a fine angled shot early in the second half.

The Catalans struggled to break down the well organised Levante defence, but Eto'o ensured all three points when he fired high into the net after turning past two defenders.

REAL BETIS 1 ATLETICO MADRID 0

Betis midfielder Joaquin guided his side to a tense 1-0 win over Atletico when he drilled past keeper Leo Franco to put Betis ahead in the seventh minute.

Atletico fought back in the second half and had three shots cleared off the line and a strong penalty appeal turned down.

They were unable to gain the equaliser they deserved even though Betis were reduced to 10 men with the sending off of defender Juanito 11 minutes from time.