LA LIGA WEEK 9

Real Madrid CF continue to set the pace in the Primera División after a 3-1 success against RC Deportivo La Coruña on a night when FC Barcelona kept in touch with victory but Villarreal CF slipped two places after a shock 4-1 loss at Real Zaragoza.

Raúl contribution
Madrid had to come back from behind after Deportivo took the lead in the second minute through Xisco. Ruud van Nistelrooy replied for the hosts from the penalty spot within five minutes but not until eleven minutes from time did the hosts edge ahead, Raúl González coming off the bench to put the Spanish champions in front, before Robinho added a third late on. Real are top with 22 points from nine games, two ahead of Barcelona, who were triumphant against UD Ameira.

Henry opener
Thierry Henry put Barça head on 37 minutes and the result never really looked in doubt as both Geovanni and Henry missed further chances to extend the home side's lead. Lionel Messi converted a penalty ten minutes from time to round off the scoring. It was not such a happy evening for Villarreal, however, who slipped to fourth place after a heavy defeat in Zaragoza. Ricardo Oliveira broke the deadlock (37), Oscar González doubled the lead (50), Diego Milito scored from the penalty spot (67) and Sergio Garcìa made it 4-0 (79) before Robert Pirès grabbed a consolation (83).

Forlán winner
Zaragoza had themselves conceded four goals against Club Atlético de Madrid last weekend and the capital club won again at bottom club Levante UD, albeit by a narrower margin. Diego Forlán (27) grabbing the only goal of the game to take his side up to fifth place in the table.

Dady double
Elsewhere, CA Osasuna came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home against struggling Real Valladolid CF thanks to a double strike from Portuguese foward Dady. Lowly Getafe CF suffered more domestic misery after a 2-0 loss at Real Racing Club Santander, while Real Murcia CF ran out 1-0 winners against RC Recreativo de Huelva.

RCD Mallorca denied RCD Espanyol the chance to join Primera División leaders Real Madrid CF on 19 points after a 2-2 draw which both teams ended with ten men.

Quick turnaround
Espanyol had been on a run of four league victories in a row including last week's defeat of previously unbeaten Madrid, but home side Mallorca led on two minutes as Juan Arango volleyed in Ariel Ibagaza's quickly taken free-kick. However, Arango headed Luis García's free-kick into his own net in the 21st minute and not long after Raúl Tamudo converted a penalty for Espanyol when he was fouled by Sergio Ballesteros, who was sent off.

Güiza equaliser
There was a red card for Espanyol early in the second half when Clemente Rodríguez was booked for the second time, and Mallorca were back on terms 21 minutes from the end as Daniel Güiza ran on to a long ball, turned in the box and shot inside the near post. Espanyol remain in fifth while Mallorca, two points adrift, are now just one place behind.

Athletic held
In the bottom half of the table, lowly Real Betis Balompié came away from Athletic Club Bilbao with a 0-0 draw in today's late game. Among Sunday's fixtures, Madrid play RC Deportivo La Coruña while Sevilla – in the first game under new coach Manolo Jiménez – welcome Valencia CF, one of three sides who could potentially overtake the leaders.

Sevilla success
It was also a bad night for Valencia, who missed out on the chance to go second after losing 3-0 at Sevilla in the late kick-off. Juande Ramos's successor, Manolo Jiménez, had every reason to be cheerful as Frédéric Kanouté (10), Christian Poulsen (73) and Luis Fabiano (86) scored to give the new coach a debut victory.