Madrid held at bay by Gijón

Real Madrid CF climbed to the top of the Liga on goal difference but only after being held to a 0-0 draw at Real Sporting de Gijón, while Sevilla FC missed the chance to close within a point by playing out an identical scoreline against ten-man RCD Espanyol.

Goal disallowed
Beaten 3-2 on their own turf by AC Milan in midweek, Madrid failed to respond in style on the domestic scene. Raúl González had a goal disallowed as Los Merengues were unable to find the back of the net for the only time this season. Their first goalless Liga stalemate since February 2007 lifted them back ahead of FC Barcelona thanks to the slenderest of goal-difference margins, but they will find themselves trailing by three points should the champions overcome Real Zaragoza on Sunday. Sevilla remain three points back in third after a frustrating evening against Espanyol, who lost Nicolás Pareja to a 59th-minute red card.

Handball decisions
Club Atlético de Madrid's woes continued as a last-minute goalkeeping error enabled nine-man RCD Mallorca to leave the Spanish capital with a point. A day after sacking Abel Resino and with new coach Quique Sánchez Flores watching in the stands, the club's 18-year-old custodian David De Gea allowed a routine effort from Borja Valero to deflect in off his legs in the dying seconds, with Los Rojiblancos seemingly poised for only their second win of the campaign. Diego Forlán had earlier put the hosts in front from a 52nd-minute penalty, but only after blasting wide from the spot in the first half. Handball offences lay behind both decisions, with Josemi and then Iván Ramis dismissed for Mallorca.