La Liga round-up

Messi: Opened the scoring

Click below for individual match facts:
Deportivo 1 Mallorca 0
Espanyol 2 Osasuna 1
Getafe 2 Malaga 1
Real Madrid 5 Athletic Bilbao 1
Sevilla 2 Barcelona 3
Sporting Gijon 1 Atletico Madrid 1
Tenerife 2 Almeria 2
Valladolid 2 Racing Santander 1
Villarreal 2 Valencia 0
Xerez 3 Real Zaragoza 2

Related links

Teams

• Athletic Bilbao
• Atletico Madrid

• More teams +

  • Barcelona
  • Espanyol
  • Getafe
  • Malaga
  • Osasuna
  • Racing Santander
  • Real Madrid
  • Real Mallorca
  • Real Zaragoza
  • Sevilla
  • Sporting Gijon
  • Valencia
  • Villarreal

Also see

• Primera Liga fixtures
• Primera Liga table
• Primera Liga stats
• Revista de la Liga
• Guillem Balague's column

The destination of the Spanish title will go down to the final match of the season after Barcelona and Real Madrid beat Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao respectively.

Barcelona maintained their one point lead at the top of the table following a 3-2 success at Sevilla. They were 3-0 up at one stage but were made to hold on as Sevilla fought back impressively.

Barcelona were on the front foot from the off and Lionel Messi's instinctive finish just five minutes in gave Josep Guardiola's side the perfect start.

The league leaders were in full control of the contest before half time when Bojan Krkic timed his run to perfection to latch onto Xavi's through ball and guide the ball home past Andres Palop.

Sevilla were left with a near impossible task nine minutes after half time when Abdoulay Konko collected his second yellow card and Pedro made them pay for their indiscipline when he lashed home a third.

However, the home side were not about to throw in the towel and ex-Spurs hit-man Fredi Kanoute pulled one back when he got the better of Carles Puyol before tucking home neatly past Victor Valdes.

Just minutes later Sevilla were firmly back in the contest when a quickly-taken free-kick saw Luis Fabiano with all kinds of time and space. The Brazilian ace made no mistake by slotting the ball in off the far post.

Real Madrid remain just a point behind Barca in the Primera Liga table after eventually getting the better of 10-man Athletic Bilbao 5-1 at Santiago Bernabeu.

The title challengers had the perfect chance to open the scoring when Fernando Amorebieta was adjudged to have handled Cristiano Ronaldo's shot and the former Manchester United man converted the ensuing penalty after the Athletic defender was sent off.

However, Bilbao stunned the bulk of the crowd when Francisco Yeste lashed home a leveller before half time, although Real were not to be denied and Gonzalo Higuain headed them back in front.

Real made the game safe late on Sergio Ramos capped a fine run with a well-taken top-corner finish before Karim Benzema got in on the act when he stroked the ball home into the bottom corner.

There was still time for Real to add the icing on the cake when Marcelo rolled the ball home into the unguarded net as the 10-man visitors crumbled under the intense pressure.

Valencia are guaranteed of third spot but they lost 2-0 to Villarreal, who can still pip Getafe to fifth spot in the standings.

Giuseppe Rossi and Joseba Llorente both netted first-half goals, although it proved a somewhat nervy second half after goal-scoring Llorente received his marching orders for collecting his second yellow card.

Getafe remain in fifth after a 2-1 win over Malaga, who are now level on points with third-from-bottom Tenerife and are in serious danger of being relegated next week.

Roberto Soldado and Leon netted for the home side while Fernando Miguel's late effort proved nothing more than a consolation.

Real Mallorca missed the chance to leapfrog Sevilla in the table after losing 1-0 at Deportivo La Coruna thanks to Riki's second-half goal.

Things could not be tighter at the bottom of the table with Xerez's 3-2 success over Real Zaragoza leaving them three points adrift of safety.

Real Valladolid gave their survival hopes a shot in the arm following a crucial 2-1 win over relegation rivals Racing Santander.

Nauzet's successful penalty clinched the points, although both teams finished the game a man light after both Fernandez Borja and Jose Moraton were sent off.

Tenerife remain in the drop zone, but Nino's last-gasp leveller in a 2-2 draw with Almeria could prove crucial next week.

Espanyol have climbed above Osasuna in the table after coming from behind to secure a 2-1 win. Quick-fire goals from Juan Forlin and Pablo Osvaldo turned the game on its head.

Elsewhere, Sporting Gijon's clash with Atletico Madrid finished one apiece. Ibrahima Balde's 72nd-minute effort cancelled out Miguel de las Cuevas's second-half opener.