Primera Liga reports

Brief reports of Primera Liga matches played on Wednesday:

REAL BETIS 3 ALAVES 0

Betis hauled themselves off the bottom of the table with their first win in 10 outings, while opponents Alaves replaced them at the foot of the standings after this heavy defeat.
 
The Andalucians were let off the hook when Alaves striker Nene missed a penalty midway through the first half, but they snatched the lead on the stroke of halftime when centre-forward Fernando steered home after good work by Edu and Joaquin.

Midfielder Xisco made it 2-0 mid way through the second half after Edu and Joaquin combined to carve open the Alaves defence. Joaquin then capped a fine individual performance when he drilled home the third after another great assist from Edu in the dying minutes.

REAL ZARAGOZA 3 ATHLETIC BILBAO 2

Javier Clemente's Bilbao looked set for an easy win after a Jose Maria Lacruz header and a Joseba Etxeberria volley left them 2-0 up shortly after the break. But the Basques proceeded to squander their lead to slip to their first defeat at La Romareda in seven years.

Brazilian striker Ewerthon put the home side back in the game when he converted from the penalty spot three minutes later and levelled the game with a gritty solo effort soon after.

Argentine striker Diego Milito struck the winner when he made the most of a great through ball from Cani to clip a neat shot over keeper Daniel Aranzubia 13 minutes from time.

DEPORTIVO CORUNA 1 ESPANYOL 2

A much needed win for the Catalans who earned themselves a valuable three points despite being reduced to 10 men when defender Moises Hurtado was sent off early in the second half.

Brazilian midfielder Fredson put the visitors ahead with an unstoppable volley direct from a corner in the 76th minute and defender Armando Sa made it 2-0 when he snapped home after his first shot had rebounded off the post.

Diego Tristan pulled one back for the Galicians when he headed in after Pedro Munitis had picked him out at the far post two minutes later but it was to no avail.

REAL SOCIEDAD 2 CADIZ 0

Sociedad midfielder Igor Gabilondo cashed in on a dreadful back pass to skip round keeper Armando and put the Basques ahead in the sixth minute.

Cadiz were dealt another blow when striker Matias Pavoni was sent off after picking up a second booking and Sociedad midfielder Xabi Prieto made sure of the win when he smashed home from the penalty spot 15 minutes from time.

GETAFE 1 SEVILLA 0

Bernd Schuster's Getafe bounced back from a three-match losing streak with a morale-boosting home win against in-form Sevilla.

Striker Daniel Guiza celebrated his recall to the starting line-up by putting his side in front when he caught keeper Andres Palop out with a dipping 25-metre drive seven minutes before halftime.

Getafe were reduced to 10 men when Mario Cotelo was sent off for a wild challenge on Seville midfielder Marti 11 minutes from time, but they still managed to hold on for a vital three points.

MALAGA 0 VILLARREAL 0

Villarreal were all over Malaga in the first half but were denied a goal by a combination of some wayward finishing and some fine goalkeeping by Francesc Arnau.

It was Malaga's turn to squander their chances in the second half, the worst example coming when striker Salva Ballesta had a penalty saved by Villarreal keeper Sebastian Viera on the hour.

REAL MADRID 1 RACING SANTANDER 2

Real Madrid ended the year in miserable fashion when they were jeered off the pitch by their own fans after slumping to their fourth home defeat of the season.

Racing took a shock lead when defender Ayoze Diaz put them ahead with a curling free kick midway through the first half and midfielder Felipe Melo doubled their lead six minutes later after he had sliced his way through the static Real defence.

Ronaldo managed to pull one back for the home side when he nodded in unopposed at the far post midway through the second half but although Real pushed hard in the closing stages they were unable to salvage a point.

VALENCIA 3 REAL MALLORCA 0

A high-class performance from an improving Valencia who move up into third spot after this win over Hector Cuper's beleaguered islanders.

Midfielder David Albelda set the home side on the way with a rasping shot at the start of the second half, leading striker David Villa made it 2-0 with a spectacular bicycle kick 20 minutes later and defender Fabio Aurelio wrapped up with an unstoppable volley.

Playing Thursday:

Osasuna v Atletico Madrid

Played Tuesday:

BARCELONA 2 CELTA VIGO 0

Barcelona survived a couple of early scares before asserting themselves to end the year on a high by collecting their 13th consecutive win in all competitions.

Brazilian forward Ronaldinho won a free kick in the 37th minute and quickly spotted an unmarked Samuel Eto'o as Celta's players protested the decision. The Cameroon striker advanced into the area and fired past keeper Esteban from a tight angle.

Midfielder Andres Iniesta masterminded the second in the 57th-minute spinning clear of four defenders to feed Eto'o, who fired high into the net for his 17th league goal this season.