Primera Liga reports

Brief reports of Primera Liga matches played on Sunday:

ALBACETE 0 RACING SANTANDER 0

Stalemate between two sides hovering just above the relegation zone. Racing had the better of the game, but the closest they came to scoring was when Israeli forward Yossi Benayoun shaved the post with a snap shot on the hour.

The visitors saw their victory hopes go 10 minutes later when defender Pedro Lopez was sent off after a second booking.

ATHLETIC BILBAO 1 ESPANYOL 1

Athletic got off to a flying start when a Fran Yeste free kick bounced across the area and crept in at the far post in the third minute.

They then had a string of chances to extend their lead but Espanyol weathered the storm and levelled the game with a beautifully fashioned goal just after the half hour.

Argentine striker Maxi Rodriguez guided the ball in at the far post after midfielders Ivan de la Pena and Jose Emilio Amavisca exchanged sharp passes to slice open the defence.

BARCELONA 1 REAL SOCIEDAD 0

Barca striker Samuel Eto'o atoned for an early penalty miss by grabbing a late winner to give his side victory over 10-man Sociedad.

The Cameroon international fired a fifth-minute spot kick against the post and Barca looked as though they would be made to pay the price as they struggled to break down the crowded Sociedad defence.

Their task was made easier when Sociedad midfielder Xabi Prieto was dismissed just after the hour, but they did not manage to break the deadlock until nine minutes from time when Eto'o headed in from a corner.

DEPORTIVO CORUNA 1 NUMANCIA 1

A first away point of the season for basement side Numancia against 10-man Deportivo Coruna who have now gone seven matches without a win.

Depor defender Cesar was sent off midway through the second half after he picked up a second yellow card, but the Galicians still managed to take the lead seven minutes later when Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani scored with a trademark glancing header.

They barely had time to celebrate their lead, though, before Numancia midfielder Carlos Merino equalised when he cracked in with an unstoppable first-time shot from five metres outside the area.

LEVANTE 2 VILLARREAL 4

Forward Antonio Guayre put Villarreal ahead after just three minutes when he latched on to a brilliant 40-metre pass from Juan Roman Riquelme, touched the ball past keeper Luis Mora and tapped into the open net.

Diego Forlan made it 2-0 with a close range header, but Levante pulled one back early in the second half courtesy of a fine strike from Alberto Rivera, who had missed an earlier penalty.

Forlan struck again on the hour to make it 3-1 and although Argentine striker Gustavo Reggi narrowed the gap once more with a close-range header, Brazilian midfielder Marco Senna concluded the entertainment when he smashed in from the edge of the area three minutes from time.

OSASUNA 0 VALENCIA 0

A subdued performance from the visitors in a match that was overshadowed by the news of the sudden death of the young daughter of Valencia defender Marco Caneira shortly before the kickoff.

Osasuna played the final 23 minutes of the game with 10 men after defender Jose Izquierdo was sent off for a second booking but Valencia were unable to cash in on their numerical advantage.

REAL BETIS 2 REAL MALLORCA 0

A neat double from Edu earned Betis a comfortable victory over struggling Mallorca, who have now gone five games without a win.

The Betis forward ghosted in at the far post to poke home a pass from fellow Brazilian Ricardo Oliveira midway through the first half and helped himself to a second four minutes from time when he headed in unopposed after Joaquin had dinked a clever pass across the area.

REAL MADRID 3 REAL ZARAGOZA 1

Real had to dig deep to come from a goal down to claim a win that kept them within seven points of leaders Barcelona.

Zaragoza took the lead midway through the first half when striker David Villa spun inside Ivan Helguera, beat centre back Walter Samuel and coolly slotted home at the near post.

But Real pulled level when Raul scooped the ball into the net just before the break and Zaragoza were dealt a double blow at the start of the second half when centre-back Alvaro was sent off and Ronaldo headed in at the far post to make it 2-1 within a minute.

Substitute Michael Owen wrapped up a hard-earned win when he threaded a pin-point shot between two defenders and inside the far post five minutes from time.

Played on Saturday:

GETAFE 1 ATLETICO MADRID 1

Getafe fought their way back from a goal down and a sending off to claim a deserved draw against local rivals Atletico who took the lead nine minutes before the break when substitute Jorge clipped home from 10 metres.

The home side suffered another blow on the stroke of halftime when defender Ruben Pulido was sent off after picking up a second booking for a foul on the lively Jesper Gronkjaer.

But they still managed to dominate the rest of the match and earned an important point when Sergio Pachon slid in at the far post to complete a beautifully fashioned passing move 19 minutes into the second half.

MALAGA 1 SEVILLA 0

Former reserve team coach Antonio Tapia got off to a winning start in charge of struggling Malaga when substitute Paulo Wanchope helped pressure Sevilla defender Aitor Ocio into turning into his own net in the second half of a tight contest at La Rosaleda.

Malaga produced a rare water-tight performance in defence as they inflicted a first defeat in six games on their fellow Andalucians.