Spanish first division reports
Brief reports of Spanish first division soccer matches:
Brief reports of Spanish first division soccer matches:
Played on Sunday:
ATHLETIC BILBAO 3 DEPORTIVO CORUNA 2
Athletic moved a step closer to an earning a place in the UEFA Cup with victory in an entertaining match.
The Basque side took a 2-0 lead into halftime thanks to cracking goals from defender Asier del Horno and midfielder Francisco Yeste, but Depor fought back to pull level after the break with two goals in three minutes from midfielders Joan Capdevila and Sergio.
Centre forward Ismael Urzaiz secured an important win for Jupp Heynckes's side when he snapped home on the turn 19 minutes from time.
ATLETICO MADRID 0 REAL MADRID 4
Combined with Real Sociedad's defeat at Celta, Real's handsome win at the Calderon allowed them to snatch top spot with one game left to play and put them on course for a 29th league title.
Real went ahead when Ronaldo let rip with a unstoppable left foot drive after seven minutes and Raul made it 2-0 with a trademark opportunist strike soon after.
Ronaldo took his total to 21 goals when he ghosted in at the far post just after the half hour and Raul completed the rout with a close range strike after the break.
CELTA VIGO 3 REAL SOCIEDAD 2
Real Sociedad appear to have let the title slip from their grasp with this costly defeat, while for Celta the victory ensured them of a first ever place in the Champions League.
Fans favourite Alexander Mostovoi put Celta ahead with a deflected shot on 11 minutes and Sociedad suffered a further blow when striker Darko Kovacevic was forced off with an ankle injury.
Mostovoi put Celta further ahead with a fine near-post header after the break and although Sociedad fought back with a neat strike from Nihat Kahveci, Egyptian striker Mido restored the home side's lead.
Nihat pulled another back seven minutes from time, but it came too late for Sociedad to turn the game around.
ESPANYOL 2 VILLARREAL 2
There was nothing at stake between two sides that could afford to relax after securing their places in the top flight.
Striker Maxi Rodriguez put Espanyol ahead on 23 minutes, his opposite number Antonio de Nigris made the most of an error by keeper Toni to equalise in the second half, before midfielder Toni Velamazan headed in to restore the home side's lead.
But Villarreal substitute Xisco popped up at the death to level the game once more.
MALAGA 3 SEVILLA 2
Ten-man Malaga put an end to Sevilla's UEFA Cup hopes with this hard-fought win.
Abrasive Uruguayan striker Dario Silva put Malaga ahead with a fine volley, but they were dealt a double blow when keeper Pedro Contreras was sent off for a foul on Francisco Gallardo and Jose Antonio Reyes equalised from the penalty spot.
Defender Javi Navarro put Sevilla ahead when he headed in from a corner on 61 minutes, but a goal from Manuel Canabal on the break and a penalty from Silva three minutes from time ensured Joaquin Peiro's side of the win.
OSASUNA 4 ALAVES 2
Doubles from Australian striker John Aloisi and midfielder Moha gave Osasuna a comfortable win over relegated Alaves.
Aloisi notched his first from the penalty spot on 25 minutes after he was adjudged to have been pushed in the back by defender Abelardo, before Alaves centre forward Ruben Navarro equalised for Alaves with a classy lob.
Osasuna went 3-1 ahead thanks to neatly taken goals from Moha and Aloisi. Although Navarro narrowed the lead once more seven minutes from time, Moha made sure of the win when Alaves keeper spilled his fierce shot a minute later.
REAL BETIS 4 RACING SANTANDER 2
Despite this win Betis saw their hopes of a UEFA Cup place evaporate because of other results.
A Fernando penalty, a Joaquin header and a sharp shot from Dani gave Betis a comfortable 3-0 lead by the 62nd minute. Racing pulled one back when Pedro Munitis drilled in at the near post before midfielder Marcos Assuncao bundled in from close range to extend the home side's lead once again.
Defender Pablo Casar scored Racing's second six minutes from time.
RECREATIVO HUELVA 1 REAL MALLORCA 1
Honours even in this preview of the King's Cup final between the same two teams later this month.
Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o scored from the penalty spot in the sixth minute after he was fouled in the area, but Joaozinho equalised with an acrobatic overhead kick early in the second half.
Already-relegated Recreativo were reduced to 10 men when defender Loren was sent off on 67 minutes, but they managed to hold on for the draw.
VALENCIA 1 BARCELONA 3
Valencia miss out on a place in the Champions League after this defeat while Barca will have to wait for a slip-up from Athletic Bilbao if they are to secure a place in the UEFA Cup.
Gaizka Mendieta gave Barca the lead on the stroke of halftime against his old side from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Carlos Marchena, while Valencia's Norwegian striker John Carew was sent off for complaining at the decision.
Valencia were reduced to nine men when defender Amedeo Carboni was dismissed after bringing Luis Enrique down in the area and Patrick Kluivert scored from the penalty spot.
Marc Overmars added a third seven minutes later before Juan Sanchez got a late consolation with another spot kick.
Played on Saturday:
VALLADOLID 2 RAYO VALLECANO 0
It was victory for Valladolid in their last home game of the season against relegated Rayo.
Striker David Aganzo took advantage of some static Rayo defending to put Valladolid ahead early in the second half and Antonio Lopez made sure of the win eight minutes from time when he scored from the penalty spot after midfielder Oscar Sanchez was brought down.