Primera Liga reports

Brief reports of Primera Liga reports played at the weekend:

Played on Sunday

ALBACETE 0 SEVILLA 2

A comfortable away win for Sevilla lifts them back into the fourth Champions League qualifying spot in the Primera Liga.

Lowly Albacete appeared short on attacking ideas and Sevilla's miserly defence was never really put to the test.

Brazilian Renato opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a scorching shot from 25 metres after finding himself in space and home-grown striker Antonito added the second on the stroke of halftime, shrugging off a defender to slot the ball home.

DEPORTIVO CORUNA 4 ESPANYOL 1

Deportivo ended a poor run of form with a home win over this year's surprise package Espanyol, who had the league's best defensive record until this game.

Depor, after a week of tense bickering in the squad, grew in confidence as the game progressed. Defender Jorge Andrade scored their first in a goalmouth scramble followed by two goals from striker Diego Tristan, bringing his league tally to five.

With Deportivo in control by the second half, midfield playmaker Juan Carlos Valeron scored a rare headed goal in the 81st minute.

GETAFE 3 REAL ZARAGOZA 0

Madrid's third-biggest team Getafe capitalised on their rare first-half chances to secure the points and climb one spot to 14th in the Primera Liga.

By packing the midfield Getafe bossed the game and were rarely threatened by Zaragoza whose former striker Yordi notched the first goal after 13 minutes, blasting home a poor clearance.

Defender Nano got the second three minutes later, heading in a cross, before Mario Coleto rifled home a third in the 37th minute to wrap up the points.

LEVANTE 2 REAL SOCIEDAD 1

Levante ended a string of poor results with a win over Real Sociedad, who failed to capitalise on long periods of possession.

Levante led from the fifth minute after midfielder Nacho tapped in a cross from Felix Ettien before playing a part in the second goal as his low cross found Edwin Congo unmarked in the area and the Colombian striker tapped the ball home.

Sociedad, a shadow of the Champions League side of two seasons ago, received some reward for their pressure when Turkish international Nihat Kahveci thumped home a brilliant free-kick from almost 30 metres before the hour mark.

MALAGA 1 ATLETICO MADRID 0

Malaga pulled themselves above the relegation zone with an edgy win as Atletico continue to have problems finding the goal.

Malaga's late winner came courtesy of a long-range shot from midfielder Juan Rodriguez that took a lucky bounce over diving goalkeeper Leo Franco after hitting a tuft of loose turf.

Minutes later justice was done as Rodriguez had a penalty saved by Franco.

REAL BETIS 4 NUMANCIA 0

Betis stayed in the chase for a lucrative Champions League spot next season with a 4-0 drubbing of bottom side Numancia.

Betis went in front after 16 minutes when defender Juanito nodded home a corner and never looked back as winger Joaquin taunted the Numancia defence.

Brazilian midfielder Marcos Assuncao curled home a stinging free kick to extend their lead before strikes either side of halftime by compatriot Ricardo Oliveira sealed the points.

REAL MADRID 3 REAL MALLORCA 1

Madrid kept in touch with leaders Barcelona thanks to a hard-fought win over relegation prospects Real Mallorca.

Hector Cuper's side battled at the Bernabeu as Alejandro Campano cancelled out a Luis Figo penalty in the frist half.

However, the visitors struggled after Mark Iuliano was sent off after 66 minutes and goals by Walter Samuel and Santiago Solari in the last 10 minutes gave Real victory.

VILLARREAL 3 VALENCIA 1

A footballing masterclass by Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, who scored a hat-trick, denied third-placed Valencia the opportunity to narrow the gap on leaders Barcelona.

After stroking home a penalty on 17 minutes, Riquelme bagged his second on the stroke of halftime with a blazing shot that goalkeeper Santiago Canizares could only palm into his own net.

Valencia, who had a Marco di Vaio penalty saved in the 790th minute, finally got on the scoresheet when midfielder Pablo Aimar converted from the spot in the second minute of injury time. A minute later, Riquelme got his third, also a penalty.

Played on Saturday:

ATHLETIC BILBAO 4 OSASUNA 3

Inspirational midfielder Francisco Yeste led Athletic from 0-3 behind to notch up a thrilling 4-3 home victory over northern Spanish rivals Osasuna, which keeps them in the chase to classify for the UEFA Cup for a second straight year.

An attacking Osasuna side took the lead with a curling shot from Uruguayan midfielder Pablo Garcia. They looked to have the game won when Spanish midfielder Francisco Punal blasted home their third, a thundering free-kick from 30-metres.

However, the Basque side refused to concede, egged on by a passionate San Mames crowd. Yeste scored two goals in four minutes, including a brilliantly-taken curling free kick. Local hero, midfielder Julen Guerrero, slotted home the winning goal with a side-footed volley.

BARCELONA 3 RACING SANTANDER 0

Barcelona put an end to a series of indifferent performances with an emphatic 3-0 win over lowly Racing Santander, stretching their lead at the top of the Primera Liga to 10 points over second-placed Real Madrid.

Barcelona's prolific Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o provided the first goal in the eighth minute, latching onto a pass from midfielder Xavi which left the Racing defence flat-footed. He coolly slotted the ball through the legs of Racing keeper Dudu.

FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho added a second in the 75th minute when he drilled a long-range strike beyond the outstretched Dudu. Portuguese midfielder Deco netted their third when his shot took a deflection from a defender and looped over the keeper, leaving Racing stranded in the relegation zone.