Primera Liga reports

Brief reports of Primera Liga matches played on Sunday:

ATHLETIC BILBAO 0 VALENCIA 3

Valencia striker David Villa helped himself to a stunning quick-fire hat-trick at San Mames to give his side a fourth win in a row and deny Barcelona a chance of wrapping up the title.

Relegation-threatened Bilbao looked as though they had done enough to earn at least a point until Villa broke the deadlock with a superbly taken goal eight minutes from time.

Two minutes later he weaved his way past a defender and keeper Inaki Lafuente before slotting home his second and Bilbao hardly had time to dust themselves down from the shock when he poked in at the far post to score his third.

CADIZ 1 DEPORTIVO CORUNA 1

Argentine striker Lucas Lobos kept Cadiz's hopes of Primera Liga survival alive when he fired home from five metres after an indirect free kick was given for a back pass seven minutes from time.

Cadiz had looked to be heading for a costly home defeat after unmarked striker Iago had given the visitors an early lead but they were thrown a lifeline when Depor midfielder Julian de Guzman was sent off 20 minutes from time.

Defender Manuel Pablo followed his team mate down the tunnel after picking up a second booking 15 minutes later.

ESPANYOL 2 REAL BETIS 0

A valuable home win that eased the relegation worries for King's Cup winners Espanyol.

Centre-back Daniel Jarque put the Catalans ahead when he poked home at the far post after Fredson had chested a long pass into the path of his team mate midway through the first half.

Skipper Raul Tamudo had the chance to stretch his side's lead just before halftime when Espanyol were awarded a penalty after Betis defender David Rivas was adjudged to have pulled down Fredson, but keeper Pedro Contreras saved the spot kick.

Contreras was sent off early in the second half after he had brought Tamudo down in the area, but although the Espanyol striker had his penalty saved by Toni Doblas he headed in the rebound to make it 2-0.

RACING SANTANDER 1 GETAFE 3

Racing coach Manuel Preciado threw in the towel after this morale-sapping defeat at home to Bernd Schuster's in-form Getafe left his side just a point above the relegation zone.

Striker Riki put Getafe in front when he added the finishing touch to a slick one-touch passing move late in the first half, but Santander equalised three minutes later when Antonito drilled in a shot after a high-speed break.

Riki scored a second when he curled a great shot into the top corner after he had checked into the area from the right on the hour and left back Mariano Pernia made it 3-1 with a trademark free kick 16 minutes from time.

REAL MADRID 2 MALAGA 1

A barely deserved win for Real that kept them in the race for the runners-up spot and left basement club Malaga with one foot in the second division.

The Andalucians took the lead when Brazilian midfielder Ricardo Bovio slammed home at the near post midway through the first half, but Real got back in the match when substitute Zinedine Zidane equalised from the penalty spot on 67 minutes.

Real centre-back Sergio Ramos snatched the win when he threw himself at the ball after Cicinho had clipped across the area following a Guti free kick in the final minute.

REAL MALLORCA 0 OSASUNA 1

Osasuna continued their drive for a Champions League place with this late win at Son Moix which left opponents Mallorca just a point above drop zone.

French midfielder Ludovic Delporte gave the Navarrans a priceless three points when he broke clear three minutes into stoppage time, shrugged off a challenge from a defender and dinked a neat shot over Mallorca keeper Toni Prats.

SEVILLA V BARCELONA

Match postponed because of waterlogged pitch.

Played Saturday:

ALAVES 0 ATLETICO MADRID 1

Atletico, without injured strikers Fernando Torres and Mateja Kezman, continued their late push for a place in Europe when Spain full back Antonio Lopez curled a 23rd-minute free kick into the top corner.

Alaves, who have only scored once in their last five matches, had their chances but remain deep in relegation trouble.

CELTA VIGO 4 REAL ZARAGOZA 0

Celta kept the pressure on the top four by seeing off a listless Zaragoza, who have nothing left to play for this season.

Uruguayan midfielder Fabian Canobbio picked up a loose ball at the end of a counter-attack to score the opener in the 30th minute, and Jorge made it 2-0 in the 47th when Zaragoza keeper Cesar failed to clear as he came out of his area.

Substitute striker Jesus Perera scored a near-post header from a corner 10 minutes from time, and a minute later Canobbio broke through to lob Cesar for his second.

VILLARREAL 0 REAL SOCIEDAD 2

An under-strength Villarreal had more than one eye on next week's Champions League semi-final against Arsenal as they put in a lame display against a side fighting relegation.

Mikel Alonso opened the scoring after nine minutes with a powerful shot that keeper Sebastian Viera misjudged badly as it skimmed off his shoulder.

Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez doubled the lead with a low free kick in the 27th minute that deflected off a foot in the wall to send Viera the wrong way.