Spanish first division reports
Reports of Spanish first division soccer matches played on Sunday:
Reports of Spanish first division soccer matches played on Sunday:
ALAVES 0 REAL BETIS 1
A tame home defeat for Alaves, coupled with victory for Osasuna at Valladolid, sent them down to the second division.
Fernando got the only goal after 57 minutes, tucking in a cross from Joaquin. Oscar Tellez capped an unhappy evening for Alaves by getting sent off 17 minutes from time.
BARCELONA 2 MALAGA 1
Barcelona moved to within two points of a UEFA Cup place with a nervous victory over Malaga.
The Catalans took the lead with a Javier Saviola header midway through the first half but a Dely Valdes penalty, given for a Gaizka Mendieta foul on Dario Silva, brought the visitors level 12 minutes after the break.
Barca were finding it difficult to make chances but they secured victory when a Patrick Kluivert cross struck Fernando Sanz on the arm and Mendieta converted the penalty.
DEPORTIVO CORUNA 3 ATLETICO MADRID 2
Deportivo's Noureddine Naybet was sent off in the sixth minute but they still managed to claim the victory they needed to keep their faint title hopes alive.
Demetrio Albertini put Atletico ahead from the penalty spot, after the referee had red-carded Naybet for a push on Jose Mari, but Enrique Romero headed in the equaliser a few minutes later. A mistake from Jose Molina gifted Fernando Correa with Atletico's second after 77 minutes before Albert Luque launched a Deportivo fightback, setting up Roy Makaay for the equaliser and then Juan Carlos Valeron for the winner.
RACING SANTADER 5 ESPANYOL 2
Both sides were assured of their first division places by the time the match kicked off and Espanyol looked a little too relaxed, as Racing ran out easy winners, Rodolfo Bodipo and Pablo Cesar getting four of the five goals.
REAL MALLORCA 1 RAYO VALLECANO 1
Rayo were consigned to the drop regardless of the result in this match after Osasuna won away to Valladolid.
The Madrid side had looked to be heading for victory after Roberto Peragon put them ahead after 70 minutes but young defender Iriney gave away a penalty nine minutes later, receiving a red card for his trouble, and Walter Pandiani scored the resulting penalty to give Mallorca a draw.
REAL SOCIEDAD 1 VALENCIA 1
Sociedad missed a chance to move three points clear with just two games left but a point was still enough to keep them ahead of Real Madrid.
The home side went ahead on 35 minutes when Xabi Alonso headed in from a corner but Valencia were level within two minutes when Anthony Reveillere's deflected shot beat Sander Westerveld.
Valencia defender Roberto Ayala received a second yellow card for handball after 57 minutes but Sociedad couldn't find a winner.
SEVILLA 1 RECREATIVO HUELVA 0
Recreativo needed at least a point to stay in with a chance of avoiding the drop but they hardly created a chance and had their fate sealed when Marcos Vales got the only goal five minutes after the break.
VALLADOLID 0 OSASUNA 2
Two goals in the first half were enough to secure a place in the top flight for Osasuna and send Rayo, Alaves and Recreativo Huelva to division two.
Cesar Palacios tucked in the first in the 11th minute, after Alfredo had beat three players and pulled the ball back, and Valdo bundled in the second a minute before the break following a dreadful mistake from keeper Albano Bizarri.
VILLRREAL 1 ATHLETIC BILBAO 1
Bilbao hold on to the sixth and final European place after the draw but Barcelona and Sevilla are now breathing down their necks.
Victor put Villarreal ahead with a low finish after four minutes, with Joseba Etxeberria lashing in the Bilbao equaliser on the half-hour after an Ismael Urzaiz shot had been half-cleared.
Played Saturday:
REAL MADRID 1 CELTA VIGO 1
Real Madrid had the chance to go back top of the table but they were unimaginative going forward and had to settle for a draw that leaves Real Sociedad in charge.
Celta opened the scoring when Russian midfielder Alexander Mostovoi got ahead of the Real defence to power a header inside the near post 10 minutes before halftime.
Real drew level when Raul met Michel Salgado's curling cross with a glancing header on 68 minutes but the home side were unable to bag the winner, despite creating a sackful of chances.