Atlético beat Valencia to maintain title charge

Club Atlético de Madrid conjured three second-half goals to beat Valencia CF and join FC Barcelona on 43 points at the top of the Spanish Liga.

Having been frustrated by Miroslav Djukić's men during the opening period at the Vicente Calderón, Atlético struck twice in four minutes around the hour mark through Diego Costa and Raúl García. Costa's 81st-minute penalty then clinched a 3-0 win which leaves Diego Simeone's team level on both points and goal difference (plus 43) with Barcelona. However, Barça lead the table having registered one goal more.

Athletic Club are fourth, eight points behind Real Madrid CF, after being held to a 1-1 draw at Sevilla FC, who moved up to seventh. Markel Susaeta's sixth-minute effort for Athletic cancelled out Alberto Moreno's even earlier strike. Sandwiched between those two sides are sixth-placed Real Sociedad de Fútbol, Imanol Agirretxe having scored twice in a 5-1 home success over bottom-placed Real Betis Balompié. Lastly, UD Almería climbed out of the relegation zone courtesy of a goalless draw with visitors RCD Espanyol.