Spain round-up: Clinical Deportivo close in

Roy Makaay claimed a hat-trick as RC Deportivo La Coruña took advantage of Real Madrid CF's Saturday slip with a 5-0 beating of RC Recreativo de Huelva.

Makaay increases tally
Juan Valerón and Víctor scored within 60 second of each other to put Deportivo two-up by the 27-minute mark. Makaay converted a 32nd-minute penalty, and within five minutes a fine finish put Deportivo out of reach of their fourth-bottom opponents. The Dutchman's 27th goal of the season came on the hour mark as Deportivo moved to within a point of Madrid, level on points with third-placed Real Sociedad in a Primera División title race suddenly opened up by Madrid's extraordinary 5-1 home defeat by RCD Mallorca.

Celta in fourth
RC Celta de Vigo are up to the fourth UEFA Champions League berth despite being held 0-0 by lowly Deportivo Alavés. Celta's rise comes as Valencia CF were beaten 2-1 by Real Racing Club Santander. Rodolfo Bodipo put Racing ahead on ten minutes, but Francisco Rufete equalised within seconds. However, Bodipo scored again in the 25th minute to send Valencia down to fifth on head-to-head record with Celta. Racing are now seven points clear of the bottom three.

Five for Athletic
Athletic Club Bilbao hold sixth place and the final UEFA Cup spot after a 5-1 win at Club Atlético Osasuna. Former Osasuna player Aitor Ocio made it 1-0 on the quarter-hour, and Santiago Ezquerro, also against his old side, doubled the lead in the 30th minute. Francisco Yeste and Joseba Arriaga scored on either side of half-time to put Athletic four goals ahead, and Gerardo Rivero's consolation was matched by a fifth away strike from Aitor Karanka. Osasuna remain behind Recreativo on head-to-head record in the last relegation place.

Barcelona hope
FC Barcelona's UEFA Cup bid received a fillip with a 3-0 win against bottom side Rayo Vallecano. Luis Enrique, Marc Overmars and Javier Saviola scored in the last 22 minutes to take their side into eighth, just a point behind Athletic but ahead of Málaga CF, held 0-0 by struggling Villarreal CF.

Valladolid clear
Real Valladolid are six points clear of the bottom three after a 3-1 triumph against another side chasing UEFA Cup entry, Club Atlético de Madrid. Fernando Sales and David Aganzo gave Valladolid a 2-0 lead on 50 minutes, and although José Mari pulled one back, Aganzo was on target again to leave Atletico three points behind Athletic, but back in 12th. Real Betis Balompié are a point adrift of Athletic after a 1-1 draw with RCD Espanyol, themselves four points away from the relegation zone.