Real Madrid's march to the title in Spain shows no sign of abating as they kept up immaculate recent form by beating Villarreal.
Madrid go nine clear as Barca are held in Bilbao
Real Madrid's march to the title in Spain shows no sign of abating as they kept up immaculate recent form by beating Villarreal, on a night when Barcelona were held by Athletic Bilbao.
Atletico Madrid suffered a surprise defeat to Real Mallorca, while Valencia dropped into the bottom half after losing at home to Almeria.
Deportivo La Coruna secured a much needed three-point haul as they saw off Real Valladolid, bottom of the table Levante beat fellow strugglers Real Murcia and Real Betis won at Espanyol.
Brazilian superstar Robinho was the architect of
Madrid's victory as his brace helped Real to a 3-2 victory over
Villarreal in a thrilling encounter at the Bernabeu.
Guti's pass was made to measure in the ninth minute and Robinho gave it the finish it deserved in opening the scoring for the home side.
It was, though, to prove short-lived as former Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi restored parity in the 16th minute with a precision shot from the edge of the box.
Visiting goalkeeper Diego Lopez was in inspired form but he could do little to prevent Robinho doubling Real's and his own tally in the 53rd minute when the forward concluded a counter-attack in some style.
Villarreal defender Joan Capdevila must have thought he had done enough to earn his side a point when he converted at a corner in the 76th, but just a minute later Wesley Sneijder raced on to Fernando Gago's ball over the top to extend Madrid's lead at the summit.
Fernando Llorente scored in the 79th minute to help
Athletic Bilbao to an impressive 1-1 draw against
Barcelona.
Bojan Krkic had given Barcelona the lead in the 35th minute, when his composed angled finish from Deco's pass found the far corner.
However, Barca were left to rue missed chances when with just over ten minutes remaining their French defender Lilian Thuram appeared to clip substitute Joseba Garmendia's cross as he covered the onrushing Llorente, and the deflected ball bounced beyond Victor Valdes.
Juan Arango was
Mallorca's hero as his 21st minute effort was enough to see off the threat of
Atletico Madrid.
The capital club's woes were compounded when in the second half Jose Antonio Reyes was sent-off.
Depor had far too much for Real Valladolid as goals from Albert Lopo (8), Francisco Xisco (46) and Andres Guardado (72) rendered Victor's late effort the scantest of consolations.
Edu's last minute goal gave
Real Betis a 2-1 win at
Espanyol. Alberto Rivera's opening goal just before half-time opened the scoring but Espanyol drew level, albeit temporarily, when Lucia Garcia struck in the 52nd minute.
Levante won the basement battle against
Murcia as goals from Alvaro (73), Riga Mustapha (82, pen) and Pedro Leon in the final minute secured a 3-2 win. Murcia's goals came from Ivan Alonso, who opened the scoring in the 47th minute and Adolfo Rosinei who drew them level at 2-2 in the 89th, before Leon's late, late winner.
Mohamed Tchite struck in injury time to secure
Racing Santander a 2-2 draw at
Real Zaragoza. Racing took the lead in the fourth minute through Ivan Bolado, before in the second period efforts from Diego Milito and Albert Celades put Zaragoza 2-1 ahead.
Getafe won 3-1 at
Recreativo as goals from Juan Albin (2), Esteban Granero (44) and Del Manu (90) did the damage. Recreativo's consolation saw Javier Camunas strike in the 16th minute.
The pressure on
Valencia coach Ronald Koeman shows no sign of easing as Felipe Melo's 20th minute goal secured an away win for
Almeria at the Mestalla.
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