Spain round-up: Classy Celta hit the heights

RC Celta de Vigo top the Spanish table after winning at RCD Mallorca on Saturday while FC Barcelona hit six at CD Tenerife.

Jesuli fires Celta
A fine individual goal from Jesuli was enough to earn Celta a win away at Mallorca and put the Galician side ahead of Real Madrid CF on goal difference. The midfielder checked past two defenders before curling an effort into the far corner for his seventh goal of the season, and it was only some superb goalkeeping from Mallorca’s Argentinian goalkeeper Carlos Roa that denied Celta further goals.

Kluivert hits four
Barcelona revived their supporters' hopes of a late dash for a European place with an emphatic 6-0 win at CD Tenerife with Patrick Kluivert scoring four goals. Carlos Puyol opened the scoring after 16 minutes for Barcelona and Kluivert doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time. The Dutchman then scored three more goals in 22 second-half minutes before an own goal from David Charcos completed a miserable night for Tenerife after 78 minutes.

Deportivo falter
At the Municipal de Riazor stadium, RC Deportivo La Coruña fell to a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Deportivo Alavés. Argentinian midfielder Martín Astudillo scored the only goal of the game in the 42nd minute. Meanwhile Rayo Vallecano won 2-1 at home to Sevilla FC despite falling a goal behind after just three minutes when Calderón put the visitors ahead. However goals from Jose María Quevedo and Elvir Bolic gave Rayo the points, although they had Elvir Baljic sent off for a second yellow card with half an hour to go.

Joy for Real
A late goal from Oscar de Paula gave relegation-threatened Real Sociedad a deserved 2-1 win against Villareal CF. John Toshack’s side had opened the scoring with Mikel Aranburu’s fierce drive after 72 minutes, but Villareal equalised four minutes later when defender Rodolfo Arruabuena headed home from a corner. However, substitute De Paula settled the tie with his first touch of the game as he nodded home another corner.