Primera Liga reports

Brief reports of Primera Liga matches played on Sunday:

ATHLETIC BILBAO 4 REAL BETIS 4

A thrilling encounter at San Mames was the match of the day and a candidate for match of the season.

Betis roared into a 3-0 lead after just 25 minutes, Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira completing two beautifully fashioned counter-attacks with efficient finishing either side of a fine solo goal from midfielder Joaquin.

Bilbao, however, responded with four goals of their own, centre forward Ismael Urzaiz twice heading home from corners before the break and midfielders Carlos Gurpegi and Fran Yeste scoring twice more to put them 4-3 up 20 minutes from time.

Betis looked out of it when defender Daniel Lembo was sent off soon after, but Oliveira completed his hat-trick and earned his side the draw when he drilled home nine minutes from time.

ATLETICO MADRID 0 LEVANTE 0

Atletico were brought back down to earth after a 2-0 win at Barcelona last week as they were held to a disappointing draw by Levante, who played most of the match with 10 men after defender Jose Antonio Culebras was sent off in the 17th minute.

ESPANYOL 2 GETAFE 0

Espanyol grabbed their first win in five outings after injury-time strikes from defender Toni Soldevilla and striker Raul Tamudo against the visitors from the capital.

Soldevilla put the Catalans ahead when he scored after a goalmouth scramble in the 91st minute and Tamudo made doubly sure when he cracked in from the penalty spot after being brought down in the area by Getafe keeper Francisco Sanchez Broto, who was sent off.

NUMANCIA 0 MALAGA 1

Malaga eased their relegation worries with a valuable away win over basement side Numancia, who seem destined for the drop after extending their winless streak to 10 games.

Things started to go wrong for the home side when forward Luis Tevenet was sent off 11 minutes before the break for elbowing Juan Rodriguez.

The midfielder exacted revenge when he tapped home into an empty net after keeper Juanma had palmed a Fernando Baiano shot into his path on the stroke of halftime.

OSASUNA 1 REAL MADRID 2

Real had substitute Michael Owen and defender Ivan Helguera to thank for a late comeback win, their seventh victory in a row, that kept them four points behind Barca in the race for the title.

A dominant Osasuna looked well on course for victory after Cameroon striker Pierre Webo fired in a ferocious shot at the near post in the 36th minute.

However, the Navarrans wasted a string of opportunities to extend their lead and were made to pay when Owen sparked Real's comeback when he headed across the line after a Roberto Carlos free kick 13 minutes from time.

Helguera snatched the winner three minutes later when he stabbed home after keeper Ricardo Sanzol had spilled a curling free kick from David Beckham.

RACING SANTANDER 1 REAL SOCIEDAD 3

Sociedad earned their first win of the year with a much-improved display against a sorry Racing, who could manage only a second-half consolation from midfielder Anderson Silva.

Midfielder Mikel Aranburu put the Basques ahead with a 30-metre drive in the ninth minute and Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci extended his side's lead soon after when he squeezed a low shot inside the post.

Kahveci scored again before the break when he slotted into the unguarded net after good work from Xabi Prieto.

REAL MALLORCA 2 ALBACETE 1

An important comeback win for Hector Cuper's Mallorca, who remain in the drop zone but are now just two points behind Albacete in the standings.

Albacete took the lead just before the half hour when midfielder Mark Gonzalez stretched to send a spectacular volley fizzing past keeper Luis Moya.

However, the islanders hit back early in the second half through a deflected shot from Tuni, who then won his side a penalty that was converted by strike partner Luis Garcia 18 minutes from time.

SEVILLA 2 VILLARREAL 1

Sevilla ended Villarreal's five-match winning run and dealt the Mediterranean side their first defeat in 10 games thanks to a double from leading striker Julio Baptista, a result which left the Andalucians in third spot in the table.

The Brazilian striker put the home side in front before halftime with a clever glancing header and doubled his side's lead from the penalty spot eight minutes from time.

Villarreal clawed a late goal back when Juan Roman Riquelme netted a penalty after Sevilla defender Aitor Ocio, adjudged to have committed a foul in the area, was controversially dismissed.

Played Saturday:

REAL ZARAGOZA 1 BARCELONA 4

Barcelona showed no sign of loosening their grip on the leadership of the Primera Liga after their first win at La Romareda since 1997.

The home side helped Barca on the way with a second-minute own goal by defender Delio Toledo as he tried to fend off Ludovic Giuly.

The French winger then struck after half an hour before Samuel Eto'o notched his 17th goal of the season nine minutes later after rounding the keeper with a neat touch.

Luciano Galletti pulled one back for the hosts with a precise shot but Rafael Marquez restored Barca's three-goal cushion with a header following a corner in the 71st minute.

VALENCIA 1 DEPORTIVO CORUNA 2

Valencia effectively waved goodbye to any hope of retaining their title after a home defeat that left them with just three points from their last five games and trailing Barca by 16 points in fourth place in the standings.

Lionel Scaloni put the visitors ahead on the stroke of halftime with a deflected shot before Italy striker Marco Di Vaio equalised early in the second half.

Depor grabbed the winner 17 minutes from time when midfielder Victor swept home following a neat back-heel from Diego Tristan.