Spain round-up: Timely efforts move Real ahead

Real Sociedad left it until the last 12 minutes to score the goals to secure a 2-0 win at Málaga CF that restored their one-point Primera División lead.

Subsitute scores
Real Madrid CF had returned to the summit by beating Valencia CF yesterday, but Real are now in front with three matches left. Sandro was dismissed for Málaga on the hour mark for a second yellow card, and Real substitute Igor Gabilondo, having only been on the pitch for three minutes, put his team into the lead with a header. Darko Kovacevic chipped in the second two minutes from the end.

Barcelona hope
FC Barcelona are still in the running for a UEFA Cup place after a 3-1 victory that leaves RC Recreativo de Huelva in serious relegation trouble. Trailing sixth-placed Athletic Club Bilbao by seven points prior to kick-off, Barcelona moved up to seventh following a game they led two minutes before the break through Javier Saviola. Patrick Kluivert made it 2-0 eight minutes after half-time, and substitute Juan Riquelme scored a third late on. Recreativo replacement Joaozinho then claimed a consolation.

Espanyol virtually safe
Recreativo remain four points adrift of fourth-bottom Osasuna, as do Deportivo Alavés, who lost 3-1 to RCD Espanyol, who are now virtually safe. Savo Milosevic put Espanyol ahead just before half-time, and only two minutes after the interval the same player scored a penalty. Carlos Llorens pulled one back from the spot ten minutes later, but Espanyol remained on top, and after their opponents were reduced to ten men with substitute Jesús Ángel Turiel's sending-off, Maxi Rodriguez confirmed the win in added time to take his team eight points clear of the bottom three.

Mallorca pegged back
Sevilla FC revived their UEFA Cup hopes with a 3-1 win at RCD Mallorca that leaves both sides level on points with behind, Barcelona and eighth-placed Club Atlético de Madrid. Samuel Eto'o put Mallorca ahead on 14 minutes, but Sevilla were level two minutes before the break through Antonio, and within 60 seconds the home side had Harold Lozano sent off for a second bookable offence. That boosted Sevilla, who took the lead with a José Antonio Reyes free-kick eight minutes after half-time, and a late Antonio individual goal confirmed the points.

Betis held
Real Betis Balompié are six points behind Athletic after drawing 2-2 with Real Valladolid, now unbeaten in six games. Valladolid went ahead through Colsa moments after half-time, only to be pegged back by Iulian Felipescu. Costa scored again, but Dani equalised for Betis two minutes from the end. There was stil time for Valldolid's José Caminero to be dismissed, but his team are now eight points away from the relegation zone.