LA LIGA Week 12

Real Madrid CF moved four points clear at the top of the Primera División after getting the better of a seven-goal thriller against RCD Mallorca while their city rivals Club Atlético de Madrid were held by UD Almería.

Seven-goal thriller
Spanish champions Madrid were handed the chance to extend their lead after FC Barcelona could only draw against Getafe CF on Saturday and got the perfect start when Robinho put them in front after ten minutes. Fernando Varela equalised just two minutes later before Robinho restored the home side's advantage with a third goal in five minutes. Mallorca stunned their opponents though when first Varela (37) hit a long-range effort in the top corner and then Daniel Güiza (59) gave them the lead. Madrid would not be denied an eighth home win in eight games this season, however, as Raúl González (63) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (73) struck to earn them maximum points.

Espanyol gain
Villarreal CF can cut Madrid's lead at the summit back to one point if they defeat Sevilla FC in Sunday's late game, but Atlético failed to put pressure on the top four after a goalless draw at Almería. They were replaced in fifth place by RCD Espanyol after the Barcelona-based side came from behind to beat Athletic Club Bilbao 2-1 where an own goal by goalkeeper Aitor Ocio in the last minute completed a fine comeback.

Racing boost
Real Zaragoza also squandered a lead as they were beaten 2-1 by second-from-bottom Real Betis Balmopié. Late goals from Xisco Muñoz (82) and Mariano Pavone (90) cancelled out Andrés D'Alessandro's opener (35) as Zaragoza were replaced in seventh place by Real Racing Club Santander, who were 1-0 winners at RC Deportivo La Coruña. Elsewhere, there were also 1-0 triumphs for 18th-placed RC Recreativo de Huelva against CA Osasuna and Real Valladolid CF, who are 17th, against lowly Levante UD.


FC Barcelona's travel-sickness continued on Saturday night as Manu Del Moral and Juan Albín struck to give Getafe CF a deserved, if unexpected 2-0 victory, as Valencia CF completed a routine 3-0 success against Real Murcia CF.

Manu strike
Manu put the hosts ahead after 27 minutes when he reacted first to Ikechukwu Uche's knock-down and, with Barcelona pressing forward for an equaliser, Albín struck in added time to deny Frank Rijkaard’s side any hope of going top of the Primera División. Barça had put on an excellent display to beat Rangers FC in the UEFA Champions League in midweek but their away form this campaign has been disappointing, the 2005/06 European champions managing just two wins on the road all season.

Worthy winners
Michael Laudrup's side, who were worthy winners, move up to eleventh place while their opponents, who squandered a 5-2 lead to lose 6-5 on aggregate against Getafe in the Copa del Rey semi-final last season, remain a point behind leaders Real Madrid FC, who play RCD Mallorca on Sunday.

Villa strikes
Valencia join the Blaugrana and Villarreal CF in joint-second place on 24 points after a comfortable 3-0 victory against Real Murcia. Los Che’s impressive start to the season had been undermined by six defeats from their last eight matches, but Iván Helguera helped his side get off to a promising start with an early goal at the Mestalla Stadium (12) before two goals by Spanish international striker David Villa (26, 51) rounded off a comfortable win.