Serrano sends Espanyol soaring

By Andy Hall

RCD Espanyol and Valencia CF leapfrogged Real Madrid CF, in to second and third places respectively, after securing wins while the capital club's match against Real Sociedad de Fútbol was suspended.

Espanyol go second
Espanyol moved directly behind league leaders and city rivals FC Barcelona in the Primera División after a 2-1 win against RCD Mallorca. Mauricio Pochettino broke the deadlock with a looping header on 26 minutes after David Cortés had blocked on the line then Óscar Serrano doubled the lead, drilling home eight minutes later. Guillermo Pereyra clawed a goal back for Mallorca but to no avail.

Valencia victory
Valencia continue to recover from their recent poor spell as they registered a 1-0 win at home against CD Numancia, their third consecutive league victory. Carlos Marchena scored his second goal in a week, a header after 20 minutes, and although Claudio Ranieri's side saw efforts from Bernardo Corradi and Xisco Muñoz disallowed, the solitary strike proved sufficient.

Madrid mayhem
Madrid began the weekend in second but drop to fourth after their match against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu was halted in the 88th minute when club security received a bomb alert with the score standing at 1-1. After goals from Ronaldo and a sublime volley from Nihat Kahveci, referee Vicente Lizondo Cortés immediately whistled both teams off the field and the stadium was evacuated.

Depor draw
Julio Baptista headed an injury-time equaliser as Sevilla FC denied RC Deportivo La Coruña their first win in four outings. Carlitos Dominguez put the visitors ahead on 41 minutes but Deportivo bounced back, first with a spectacular strike from Sergio González and then Lionel Scaloni, who rifled in four minutes from time and looked to have given the home side the win before Baptista's dramatic intervention.

Rousing Riquelme
Villarreal CF sauntered to a 2-1 win at Getafe CF with Juan Román Riquelme playing a key role in both goals. Antonio Guayre opened for the visitors on seven minutes and Diego Forlán doubled the score on the hour. Victoriano Rivas headed a late consolation goal for the Madrid outfit.

Málaga lifted
Real Betis Balompié won 2-1 against Real Racing Club Santander, while Richard Morales' fourth-minute goal set a new club scoring record for Osasuna of five goals in consecutive matches as CA Osasuna and Real Zaragoza drew 2-2 in Pamplona. Elsewhere, Málaga CF won their first in eight matches against Levante UD to edge out of the relegation zone courtesy of a solitary 46th-minute Marcio Amoroso strike.