What a difference a week makes. Barcelona came fresh from a 7-0 win in the league and qualifying for the semi-final of the cup to be thrashed 4-0 by bottom club Racing Santander. Three of the four goals came from winter signings, with Regueiro and Ramis scoring on their home debuts either side of half time, Arzeno heading a third and Mazzoni adding the fourth before the end. The victory takes Racing off the bottom, ahead of Osasuna on goal average.

Villarreal stay fifth after coming from behind with ten men to beat Oviedo 1-3. Javier Gracia gave away a dubious penalty and got himself sent off on the stroke of half time, and Tomic converted the kick to give the home side the lead. But Palermo's first goal and two more from Unai and Jorge López in the second half turned the game around.

A silly own goal in the first half from reserve goalkeeper Rafa gave Mallorca a single goal victory at Málaga. Mallorca stay sixth, behind Villarreal on goal average. 1-0 victories too for Valladolid against Las Palmas, thanks to a Caminero goal at the start of the second half, and Alavés against Zaragoza, who won with an early goal from Jordi Cruyff. (11.02.01)

Athletic Bilbao bounced back from their humiliating defeat against Barcelona last week to end Real Madrid's eleven match unbeaten run and open the league up once again. A single goal by Alkiza was enough to give them victory against a Madrid side who were ineffective without the suspended Luis Figo.

Madrid still however hold a four point lead over second placed Deportivo de La Coruña, who thrashed Real Sociedad 4-1. With Makaay out injured Diego Tristán stepped in to score a hat-trick, and Donato added another from a free kick before De Pedro restored some pride with a late goal for the San Sebastian side.

Valencia won their first game in almost a month to keep in touch with the leaders, boosting their confidence before their midweek Champions League match with Manchester United. They beat strugglers Numancia 3-0, with goals by Juan Sánchez, Mendieta (from the penalty spot) and substitute Diego Alonso. Kily González was sent off near the end.

An injury time free kick by Luis Cembranos gave ten man Rayo Vallecano a 2-1 victory over Osasuna, who missed a penalty with the scores at 1-1. Quevedo had given the Madrid based team the lead, but Alfonso equalised from a header in the second half. A last second goal too in the match between Espanyol and Celta, this time from Catanha, gave the visitors a 0-1 victory. (10.02.01)