Primera Liga reports

Brief reports of matches played in the Primera Liga on Sunday:

BARCELONA 3 ATHLETIC BILBAO 0

Stung by criticism following back-to-back defeats against Valencia and Liverpool, Barcelona produced their best performance in recent months as they dismantled a sorry looking Bilbao.

Barca took the lead when Bilbao defender Fernando Amorebieta turned into his own net midway through the first half, midfielder Xavi made it 2-0 when he put the finishing touch to a gleaming passing move and Samuel Eto'o marked his return to the starting lineup with a cool finish before the break.

CELTA VIGO 2 RACING SANTANDER 2

Celta looked on course for a second home win of the season when a dubious penalty from Fernando Baiano and a fine header from new signing Habib Bamogo put them 2-0 up just after the half hour.

But Racing pulled one back early in the second half when Pedro Munitis angled a shot into the far corner after good work from Serbian strike partner Nikola Zigic and earned themselves a point with a Cristian Alvarez penalty 11 minutes from time.

GETAFE 0 SEVILLA 0

Bernd Schuster's Getafe maintained their excellent defensive record at home this season thanks to another disciplined and determined display at the Coliseo.

The Madrid-based side, who have conceded just three goals and lost only once at home this term, successfully shackled Primera Liga leading scorer Frederic Kanoute and then did the same with his replacement Ernesto Chevanton.

GIMNASTIC TARRAGONA 1 VALENCIA 1

A last-gasp header by substitute Ruben Castro denied Valencia a victory that would have jacked up the pressure on the leaders.

Winger Joaquin put Valencia in front with his first goal for the club when he poked home after keeper Albano Bizzarri had parried a Fernando Morientes shot into this path just after the hour, but Gimnastic refused to cave in and finally got their reward with Castro's injury-time strike.

LEVANTE 0 REAL ZARAGOZA 0

Zaragoza missed the chance to leapfrog Atletico Madrid in the standings after they were held by an improving Levante who were reduced to 10 men when defender Inaki Descarga was sent off in injury time.

OSASUNA 0 ESPANYOL 2

Forward Ferran Corominas put in-form Espanyol in front when he fired an angled shot low into the far corner and leading striker Raul Tamudo secured a third win in a row when his deflected shot ballooned over keeper Ricardo at the near post midway through the second half.

Espanyol had few problems holding on to their lead even though centre back Daniel Jarque was sent off with 14 minutes left to play.

REAL BETIS 0 RECREATIVO HUELVA 0

A third goalless draw in a row for Luis Fernandez's Betis, but they have not lost in six and are slowly but surely hoisting themselves clear of the relegation zone.

Recreativo, who were on the ropes for much of the second half, will be happy with a point that keeps them in the hunt for the European places.

VILLARREAL 2 REAL MALLORCA 1

A late goal from Argentine defender Fabricio Fuentes put an end to Villarreal's three-match losing streak and condemned relegation-threatened Mallorca to a costly defeat.

Villarreal fell behind when Mallorca midfielder Guillermo Pereyra headed in from a corner, but Jon Dahl Tomasson levelled 12 minutes later when he steered in from close range after a great run and cut-back from Chile midfielder Matias Fernandez.

Played Saturday:

REAL SOCIEDAD 0 DEPORTIVO CORUNA 1

Sociedad's chances of remaining in the top flight look increasingly slim after a sixth defeat in seven games.

Striker Angel Arizmendi scored the winner for Depor just before the half hour when he steered in from close range after midfielder Sergio had clipped a free kick into the area.

Sociedad threw everything at Depor in the second half but did not have the firepower to breach the visitors' defence.

ATLETICO MADRID 1 REAL MADRID 1

A dominant Atletico were denied a first win in eight years over their city rivals at the Calderon when Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain scored his first goal since joining Real from River Plate in January just after the hour.

Fernando Torres had put Atletico in front with his first ever goal against Real thanks to a classy strike in the 11th minute but his side had a second controversially ruled out soon afterwards, apparently for offside.

Real were kept in the game by goalkeeper Iker Casillas and the visitors managed to hang on for a point despite having centre back Fabio Cannavaro sent off six minutes from time.