First division - day 10

Draws for Celta and Valencia on Sunday meant that Deportivo kept their top spot a week longer despite their defeat the night before. Celta were lucky even to earn a point, Mostovoi getting the equaliser against Valladolid with a header in the last minute. The Gallicians were looking as if they would lose their 13 game unbeaten record after Tote gave the visitors the lead early in the second half and Ricardo stopped everything thrown at him, but once again the Russian midfielder saved the day.

Celta drop to third behind Barcelona, level with Valencia and Alavés on 18 points. Valencia were held to a 1-1 draw at Sevilla after taking the lead, Albelda scoring at the second attempt with twenty minutes on the clock. However Moisés made it all square only seven seconds in to the second half, one of the fastest second half goals ever. The goalscorer turned villain right at the end though, getting himself sent off for a second bookable offence in the ninetieth minute. Valencia maintain their unbeaten record this season with their fifth away draw in a row.

Alavés moved up to fourth place, ahead of Valencia on goal average, with a 1-0 win against Las Palmas. Once again it was their Argentine under 21 international Coloccini who gave them the three points with his third goal in eight days, this time a header from Pablo's free kick. Coloccini is currently on loan from Milan, but the club are thinking of buying out his 15 million Euro buy out clause at the end of the season.

Málaga climbed out of the danger zone above their opponents with a 0-2 victory in Zaragoza's Romareda stadium. Holland's Kiki Musampa got both their goals, one in each half, to give them victory. The down side for the south coast team was an early injury to Dely Valdés, and with Darío Silva due to be away on international duty for the next month they could be short of strike power for their next few games. Zaragoza's manager was booed by home fans, and his future depends to a large extent on his team beating Servette in the UEFA cup next Thursday.

Athletic Bilbao are still without a home win this season after drawing 1-1 with Espanyol. Larrazábal gave the Basque side the lead from the penalty spot with a quarter of an hour gone after David García brought down Lacruz, but then they were reduced to ten men when Lacruz was sent off for a late tackle on Martín Posse before half time. Mexican international Palencia came on as substitute and got the equaliser halfway through the second half. (28.10.01)

Leaders Deportivo fell to their first away defeat of the season, losing 2-1 against bottom club Rayo Vallecano. After a lively first half, Bolic put the home side in front two minutes after the restart from Glaucio's pass. Pandiani replaced the injured Diego Tristán on the hour mark, and five minutes later levelled the scores from Héctor's cross. But a mistake by Djalminha let in Glaucio for the winner with twenty minutes to go. Depor stay top pending the results of Celta and Valencia on Sunday.

Barcelona moved to within a point of Depor after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Betis. Kluivert set up Saviola for the first goal early on with a clever back-heel, and Rivaldo added the second five minutes in to the second half heading home Saviola's cross. The Brazilian striker made it three a few minutes later with a shot which took a deflection off Belenguer to finish things off. The downside for the Catalans was an injury to Luis Enrique which will keep him out of next week's derby match at Real Madrid, and with Rivaldo also missing on international duty Rexach will have to make changes.

Real Madrid came back from behind twice to defeat Villarreal 2-3 with a last minute goal from Raúl. Víctor gave the home side the lead in the first half with a long shot after Casillas only half cleared, but Madrid equalised after the break with a controversial Figo penalty after the referee ruled that Arruabarrena had fouled Morientes. Calleja restored the lead almost immediately, but Munitis made it all square again five minutes from the end and Raúl headed the winner at the end.

Mallorca's revival proved short-lived as they fell 4-0 to Osasuna, who had only scored once at home in their last four matches before this one. John Aloisi made his first start of the season and scored the opener from Iván Rosado's cross, and Puñal added a second before half time. Gancedo, back in the side after falling out with his manager, got the third and Rosado made it four before full time.

Mallorca drop to next to bottom behind Real Sociedad on goal average after the San Sebastian side defeated Tenerife 0-1. Luiz Alberto headed the only goal in the second minute from De Pedro's corner in the second minute, but only Tenerife keeper Sergio Aragoneses and the woodwork kept them from increasing their lead before half time. However the introduction of young midfielder Acorán at half time put the island team back in the game, and this time it was the visitors' keeper Alberto who saved the day stopping a penalty by Xisco. (27.10.01)