Eighteen and counting for Barça

FC Barcelona extended their lead at the top of the Primera División to ten points as their record-breaking winning streak reached 18 games with a 2-0 success against struggling Deportivo Alavés.

Winning habit
Despite missing striker Samuel Eto'o, away at the African Cup of Nations with Cameroon, Barça continued their winning habit thanks to goals from Henrik Larsson and Lionel Messi. Swedish international Larsson scored in the first minute of the second half, and Messi in the 78th - ten minutes after Ronaldinho had missed a penalty. The leaders have an injury worry over Carles Puyol, who was forced off with a hip problem.

Riquelme double
CA Osasuna's recent slide continued with a third successive 2-1 defeat, this time at Villarreal CF. Javier Aguirre's side seemed well set when Raúl García gave them a first-half lead, but the UEFA Champions League challengers turned the match around with Juan Román Riquelme scoring twice from the penalty spot.

Villa joy
Real Betis Balompié's dismal league season continued with a 2-0 home loss to Valencia CF. Two goals from David Villa saw the visitors leapfrog Osasuna and Real Madrid CF and claim second spot. Meanwhile, Getafe CF exacted revenge for their cup defeat by RCD Espanyol with a resounding 5-0 victory - Daniel Güiza and Mariano Pernía both scoring twice.

Sevilla relief
Enzo Maresca scored two penalties as Sevilla FC put recent blips behind them by gaining a 3-2 victory against Real Racing Club Santander, but there was disappointment for RC Deportivo La Coruña as they let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with RCD Mallorca and saw playmaker Juan Carlos Valerón suffer a serious knee injury. Mallorca are replaced in the drop zone by Málaga CF following their 2-0 loss to RC Celta de Vigo.

Relegation scrap
Finally, Athletic Club Bilbao, who lie in the relegation places going into the second half of the season for the first time in their history, drew 3-3 at Real Sociedad de Fútbol after Andoni Iraola struck an equaliser in added time.