Mallorca peg back visitors Espanyol

RCD Mallorca denied RCD Espanyol the chance to join Primera División leaders Real Madrid CF on 19 points after a 2-2 draw which both teams ended with ten men.

Quick turnaround
Espanyol had been on a run of four league victories in a row including last week's defeat of previously unbeaten Madrid, but home side Mallorca led on two minutes as Juan Arango volleyed in Ariel Ibagaza's quickly taken free-kick. However, Arango headed Luis García's free-kick into his own net in the 21st minute and not long after Raúl Tamudo converted a penalty for Espanyol when he was fouled by Sergio Ballesteros, who was sent off.

Güiza equaliser
There was a red card for Espanyol early in the second half when Clemente Rodríguez was booked for the second time, and Mallorca were back on terms 21 minutes from the end as Daniel Güiza ran on to a long ball, turned in the box and shot inside the near post. Espanyol remain in fifth while Mallorca, two points adrift, are now just one place behind.

Athletic held
In the bottom half of the table, lowly Real Betis Balompié came away from Athletic Club Bilbao with a 0-0 draw in today's late game. Among Sunday's fixtures, Madrid play RC Deportivo La Coruña while Sevilla – in the first game under new coach Manolo Jiménez – welcome Valencia CF, one of three sides who could potentially overtake the leaders.