Primera Liga reports

Brief reports of Primera Liga matches played at the weekend.

Played on Sunday:

BARCELONA 3 SEVILLA 1

Barca broke three points clear of their rivals at the top of the table after getting the better of Sevilla in a high-class match at the Nou Camp,

Ronaldinho scored a penalty and a free kick either side of a Frederic Kanoute header to put Barca 2-1 up at halftime and Argentine teenager Lionel Messi made sure of the win with a fine individual goal 10 minutes from time.

CELTA VIGO 3 VALENCIA 2

Celta came from a goal down to inflict a first defeat of the season on Valencia who took the lead when defender David Navarro scored with a glancing header four minutes before the break.

Brazilian striker Fernando Baiano equalised on the stroke of halftime and Celta went 3-1 up early in the second half thanks to quick-fire goals from midfielders Iriney and Fabian Canobbio.

Striker Fernando Morientes narrowed the lead when he took advantage of some sloppy defending just after the hour, but they were unable to battle their way back into the match.

Valencia's Jaime Gavilan was sent off just before the final whistle.

GIMNASTIC TARRAGONA 2 ATHLETIC BILBAO 3

A first win of the season for Athletic who took the lead when playmaker Fran Yeste scored with an 11th minute penalty.

Nastic had defender Manuel Ruz given a straight red for a challenge on Pablo Orbaiz in the 28th minute and they found themselves 2-0 down when Iraola curled in after keeper Albano Bizzarri had blocked a shot from striker Aritz Aduriz.

Yeste made it 3-0 with a delightful lob early in the second half, but they were unable to relax as Bilbao defender Josu Sarriegi sliced into his own net a minute later and Nastic striker Ariza Makukula headed in 19 minutes from time.

LEVANTE 0 REAL MALLORCA 1

A valuable away win for the islanders who grabbed the points when Venezuelan striker Juan Arango snapped up a loose clearance in the area, controlled with his chest and then curled a shot round the keeper in the first half.

Levante midfielder Olivier Kapo was sent off 12 minutes from time for complaining after a penalty appeal was turned down.

OSASUNA 0 RACING SANTANDER 1

Racing broke their duck with a first win of the season that came courtesy of a Felipe Melo penalty awarded after towering Serb striker Nikola Zigic went to ground under pressure from Osasuna defender Cesar Cruchaga early in the second half.

Racing coach Miguel Angel Portugal remains under heavy pressure and club president Francisco Pernia refused to give him his backing after the match.

REAL BETIS 1 DEPORTIVO CORUNA 1

Deportivo threw away three points in injury time when Alberto Lopo conceded a penalty for handball and Betis striker Robert converted from the spot.

Depor had taken the lead at the start of the second half when Angel Arizmendi netted with a spectacular long-distance drive that dipped and swerved past keeper Toni Doblas.

Both sides ended the game with 10 men, Depor losing striker Filipe on 65 minutes and Betis forward Rafael Sobis following him off after picking up a harsh second booking.

REAL SOCIEDAD 1 REAL ZARAGOZA 3

Sociedad took the lead through a Xabi Prieto penalty but they self destructed after midfielder Diego Rivas was sent off a minute later.

Zaragoza were almost immediately awarded a fiercely contested penalty, with both sides appearing to be at a loss to explain why it was given. Argentine striker Diego Milito fired in to make it 1-1.

Midfielder Carlos Diogo put Zaragoza 2-1 up and Milito made sure of the win when he put the finishing touch to a lethal counter-attack just before the hour.

VILLARREAL 0 ESPANYOL 0

Stalemate at the Madrigal though Espanyol can count themselves unlucky not to have grabbed a late win after a Walter Pandiani goal was ruled out because the linesman adjudged a corner had drifted out of play before he headed the ball into the net.

Played on Saturday:

GETAFE 1 REAL MADRID 0

Real suffered a double blow as they lost their first league game of the season and then had striker Ronaldo sent off when he picked up a second booking for back chat to the referee in the dying minutes of the game.

Centre-back Alexis gave Bernd Schuster's side a throughly deserved victory when he headed in from a corner 15 minutes into the second half, while Real, who host arch-rivals Barcelona next Sunday, gave one of their worst performances of the season.

ATLETICO MADRID 2 RECREATIVO HUELVA 1

Atletico snatched a controversial victory when Argentine teeanger Sergio Aguero punched a Fernando Torres header across the line 12 minutes from time.

A dynamic Recre took the lead shortly after the hour when former Atletico player Javi Guerrero netted on the rebound after Leo Franco had saved his penalty. But Torres equalised with another spot kick nine minutes later.

Both sides ended the game with 10 men, Recre losing defender Dani Bautista on 81 minutes and Atletico fullback Yourkas Seitaridis following him down the tunnel before the end.