Primera Liga reports

Brief reports of Primera Liga matches played on Sunday:

CELTA VIGO 2 OSASUNA 0

Celta moved within a point of Osasuna and the all-important Champions League places after this authoritative victory over the Navarrans who were reduced to 10 men late on with the sending off of midfielder Inaki Munoz for pushing an opponent.

Brazilian striker Fernando Baiano gave the Galicians an early lead when he fired a curling shot inside the far post after good work from midfielder Fabian Canobbio.

The Uruguayan then made sure of the win with a virtuoso solo goal in the second half, re-gathering the ball after pushing it past two defenders, rounding the keeper and slotting into the open net.

GETAFE 1 REAL BETIS 0

Serbian striker Veljko Paunovic earned Getafe their first win in six games when he sent a glancing header inside the far post after a corner.

The victory left Bernd Schuster's side stationed safely in mid-table and well on course to achieve their aim of preserving their top-flight status, but Betis remain in serious trouble as they hover two points above the drop zone.

MALAGA 0 VALENCIA 0

Valencia missed a chance to reclaim second spot from Real Madrid with this goalless draw.

Portugal defender Miguel Monteiro almost gave the visitors the lead when he diverted a cross on to the bar in the first half and Fabio Aurelio hit the woodwork with a free kick in the second.

Bottom club Malaga almost snatched the win when Brazilian midfielder Bovio hit the post from 20 metres.

RACING SANTANDER 0 REAL MALLORCA 0

A goalless stalemate at the Sardinero will have satisfied neither struggling side.

Racing had the better of the game and Chile striker Mauricio Pinilla spurned two clear opportunities to secure a win for the home side when he miscued shots in either half.

REAL SOCIEDAD 1 REAL ZARAGOZA 3

Sociedad got off to a bright enough start when Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci marked his return from injury by poking home into the empty net after fellow striker Morten Skoubo had touched the ball across the face of the goal.

The Basque side held on to their lead until halftime, but were unable to cope with Zaragoza's high-speed counter-attacks in the second period.

Brazilian striker Ewerthon equalised when he glided in at the far post to net a clever pass from playmaker Cani and midfielder Oscar made it 2-1 just past the hour after his low angled shot took a deflection off a defender.

Ewerthon added a third when he headed low past keeper Asier Riesgo eight minutes later to inflict a defeat that left Sociedad just two points clear of the drop zone.

SEVILLA 2 ATHLETIC BILBAO 1

A costly defeat for Bilbao who were unable to hold 10-man Sevilla and are now back in the relegation zone.

Italian defender Enzo Marseca put Sevilla ahead in the 17th minute with his sixth penalty of the season after striker Frederic Kanoute went to ground.

Bilbao drew level four minutes later when striker Aritz Aduriz volleyed in after a neat headed assist from Fran Yeste and Sevilla suffered another setback before the break when Serbian defender Ivica Dragutinovic was harshly sent off for use of the arm as he tried to head the ball.

But the Andalucians claimed a deserved win that kept them up in the UEFA Cup places when Kanoute turned and shot low into the corner on the hour.

Played on Saturday:

BARCELONA 3 DEPORTIVO CORUNA 2

Barca warmed up for Tuesday's Champions League showdown against Chelsea with a win against away experts Deportivo that put them 10 points clear at the top of the table.

Ronaldinho got Barca off to a dream start with a sweetly struck free kick in the third minute, but Depor took advantage of some slack defending to go 2-1 up after fine headers from centre-backs Juanma and Jorge Andrade from set pieces.

Henrik Larsson put the home side back on level terms with a great diving header before the break and fellow striker Samuel Eto'o clinched the win just past the hour when he prodded over the line after a Ronaldinho corner had bobbled across the face of goal.

CADIZ 2 ESPANYOL 0

A thoroughly deserved first win in seven games for relegation-threatened Cadiz against an Espanyol side that have now lost their last four games on the road.

The Andalucians showed more ambition than the visitors but it was not until 16 minutes from time that they were rewarded for their efforts, fullback Abraham Paz diving through a forest of defenders to get his head to Jonathan Sesma free kick.

Sesma made sure of the win six minutes later when he cracked home with his left after Paz hoisted a free kick over the Espanyol back four.

REAL MADRID 2 ATLETICO MADRID 1

Real Madrid put a week of turmoil behind them after Florentino Perez's shock resignation as club president with a morale-boosting win over city rivals Atletico.

Antonio Cassano made the most of Ronaldo's absence to notch up his first league goal in the fourth minute when he headed in at the far post after a great cross from Roberto Carlos.

Serbian striker Mateja Kezman equalised with a clever back-heel finish midway through the half, but Brazilian forward Julio Baptista put Real in front once more before the break when he poked home a David Beckham pass after a slickly worked counter-attack.

Atletico, who had gone into the match on a six-match winning run, laid siege to the Real area for much of the second half but in the absence of influential playmaker Ariel Ibagaza and in-form forward Maxi Rodriguez they were unable to manufacture an equaliser.

VILLARREAL 3 ALAVES 2

Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme orchestrated a 3-2 comeback win against the struggling Basque side, capping a masterful performance with two classy goals.

Alaves took the lead against the run of play when Australian striker John Aloisi volleyed home at the far post, but Riquelme levelled nine minutes later when he scored direct from a corner.

Midfielder Enrique de Lucas restored the Alaves lead when he fired the ball under keeper Sebastian Viera late in the first half after defender Juanito had threaded a brilliant pass through the Villarreal back four.

Riquelme equalised once again midway through the second half when he popped up unmarked at the far post and substitute Guillermo Franco grabbed the winner with a fine header seven minutes from time.