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Primera Liga round-up

Image: Xavi: Brace for Barca

Barcelona powered to top spot in the Primera Liga after Valencia suffered a shock home defeat by Racing.

Wins for Barca, Villarreal, Atletico and Racing

In-form Barcelona powered to top spot in the Primera Liga after Valencia suffered a shock home defeat by Racing Santander. Villarreal remain on the heels of the leaders after an easy win at Athletic Bilbao, while Atletico Madrid proved too strong for Real Mallorca. Barcelona made it 11 wins in a row in all competitions after a convincing 4-1 win away to Malaga. Xavi curled a free-kick into the top corner after just five minutes, but Malaga levelled through Duda on 13 minutes. Lionel Messi restored Barca's lead on 19 minutes with a low shot before Xavi grabbed his second after half-time following Thierry Henry's knock down. The scoring was complete on 81 minutes when Daniel Alves' long-range free-kick took a heavy deflection off Malaga's Weligton. Previous leaders Valencia are down to third spot after a surprise 4-2 defeat at home to lowly Racing. Mohamed Tchite put the visitors in front on 23 minutes, but David Villa levelled on 29 minutes from the penalty spot after Joaquin had been brought down. Racing regained the lead early in the second half through Tchite, only for Joaquin to bring Valencia level once more. Tchite completed his hat-trick on 80 minutes by heading home Pedro Munitis' free-kick before Valencia midfielder David Albelda turned the ball into his own net five minutes from time. Villarreal remain just one point behind Barcelona after thrashing struggling Athletic Bilbao 4-1 away from home. Giuseppe Rossi put Villarreal ahead on 24 minutes only for Joseba Etxeberria to head home an equaliser five minutes later from David Lopez's corner. Former Premier League duo Rossi and Robert Pires combined for the latter to score on 53 minutes and Santi Cazorla notched the third on the hour mark. Cazorla turned provider for Villarreal's fourth goal in injury time as he teed up Jozy Altidore to score after the striker had just been introduced as a substitute. The irrepressible Sergio Aguero grabbed both goals as Atletico Madrid secured a 2-0 home win over Mallorca. Aguero broke the deadlock on 14 minutes following Diego Forlan's headed pass and the pair combined again on 28 minutes with the Uruguayan supplying the Argentine ace with the chance to score from close range.

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