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Spain round-up: Madrid make important move

Real Madrid CF stole a march on their main rivals with a 3-1 win at Sevilla FC as Real Sociedad lost.

Real Madrid CF stole a march on their main Primera División rivals with a 3-1 win at Sevilla FC as both Real Sociedad and RC Deportivo La Coruña lost.

Victory sealed
Madrid took the lead 24 minutes in through an Iván Helguera header. Francisco Gallardo latched on to an Antonio cross six minutes before the break applyingto level for Sevilla. But Zinedine Zidane restored Madrid's lead on 52 minutes after a first-time finish to Guti's accurate through-ball, and Fernando Morientes's late goal sealed victory for Spain's sole UEFA Champions League survivors.

Real defeated
They are now four points clear of Real and Deportivo. Second-placed Real suffered a 2-1 defeat at FC Barcelona. Javier Saviola scored on 12 minutes and Patrick Kluivert added Barcelona's second a quarter-hour later. Nihat Kahveci's deflected free-kick ten minutes from time gave Real hope, but they could not fashion an equaliser. The victory leaves Barcelona 12th, but only two points off a top-six UEFA Cup place.

Deportivo falter
Meanwhile, Deportivo lost 3-0 at RCD Mallorca. The visitors consolidated eleventh place as Samuel Eto'o put them ahead on three minutes, and Albert Riera doubled their advantage seven minutes later. Eto'o struck again on 65 minutes to damage Deportivo's title bid.

Champions bounce back
Valencia CF moved back into the fourth Champions League slot days after exiting that competition against Internazionale FC by beating Deportivo Alavés 3-0. Anthony Réveillère gave the title-holders the lead with his first goal for the club on the half-hour, and Francisco Rufete struck early in second half to leave Valencia in control. Pablo Aimar, playing as a lone striker, sealed the result on 67 minutes with a low, drilled shot on the counterattack. Alavés are now second bottom, three points adrift of safety.

Recreativo score five
RC Celta de Vigo slipped from the top four after being held 0-0 by struggling Real Valladolid. The result leaves Valladolid three points clear of the relegation zone, as RC Recreativo de Huelva moved up to 18th place with a superb 5-0 victory against nine-man Villarreal CF. Rodolfo Arruabarrena was sent off for Villarreal on 35 minutes, and Raúl Molina scored the resultant penalty. Juliano Belletti's red card meant Villarreal entered the break with nine men, and a double from Emilio Viqueira and further goals by Mariano Pernia and Enrique Romero ensured Recreativo took full advantage.

Milosevic double
Recreativo are level on points with fourth-bottom Club Atlético Osasuna, but six ahead of basement side Rayo Vallecano, beaten 3-0 by RCD Espanyol. Savo Milosevic scored twice and Roger added the other as Espanyol stayed three points clear of the bottom trio, but just behind Real Racing Club Santander, who drew 2-2 with sixth-placed Málaga CF.

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