First division, day 8

Sevilla moved back up to second in the table after coming from a goal down to beat Celta 1-2. Nené squeezed a shot past Palop to open the scoring for the Galicians in the seventh minute, but Poulsen equalised with a shot from outside of the area on the half hour mark, and Adriano sneaked in to dispossess Antonio Nuñez and put the visitors ahead fifteen minutes in to the second half. Celta could have saved a point though had Palop not stopped a Baiano penalty three minutes from the end.

Zaragoza edged Valencia out of fourth spot after a late 0-1 victory over Atlético Madrid in the last game of the weekend. Both sides started the game level on points, and visiting keeper César had to be at his best, in particular to keep out a Galletti header before the break. But with a draw on the cards Diego Milito sent substitute Oscar González away, and although Luccin blocked his shot, the ball bounced up allowing the forward to head into an empty net.

Getafe are also back in the European spots, level on points with Zaragoza and Valencia, after beating Deportivo La Coruña 2-0. Manu del Moral got the first goal just nine minutes from the kick off after running on to Casquero's pinpoint pass to beat Aouate, and substitute Nacho got the second midway through the second half, again after Casquero set him up. Celebrations were so great that the winger had his nose broken by his team mates!

Villarreal are ninth after a 0-1 win at Real Sociedad, spoiling the debut of Real's new coach Miguel Angel Lotina, who replaced Bakero midweek. The home fans still gave their side an ovation for their effort, although the defeat leaves them firmly anchored to the bottom of the table after the joint worst start in their history. The only goal came ten minutes from the end when Arruabarrena headed Riquelme's corner against the bar, the referee deciding that the ball had crossed the line before it bounced away.

A 0-1 result as well between Betis and Mallorca, a scoreline which leaves the home side further down in the drop zone and the visitors level with Villarreal in midtable. The Andalusians played over half the match with ten men after Lembo was shown a straight red card a few minutes before the interval, but the goal didn't come until twelve minutes from the end, when Arango rolled a free kick behind him for Jankovic to blast the ball past Contreras.

Osasuna finally got their first goal in just under ten hours of football, although it only served to gain them a point in a 1-1 draw with Basque neighbours Athletic Bilbao. Gabilondo headed the visitors into the lead from Etxeberría's cross with just under half an hour on the clock, but Soldado poked home a loose ball after the restart for his first official goal since joining the club in the summer.

The result leaves both sides just above the relegation spots, together with Levante and Espanyol who drew 0-0. A Bruce Springsteen concert had left the pitch in a poor state, and most fans must have wished they could have attended that function rather than this match, in which chances were few and far between. The best efforts came in the second half, Alexis heading a Riera cross away from under the bar and Berson and Meyong Zé going close at the other end. (29.10.06)

Barcelona moved two points clear at the top of the table after a comfortable 3-0 win over Recreativo. Ronaldinho opened the scoring from the penalty spot with just under half an hour on the clock after Mario fouled Gudjohnssen in the area, and the Brazilian star headed a second just ten minutes after the restart after Laquait misjudged Sylvinho's long cross. Three minutes later Xavi lost his marker to head a third from Belletti's centre, and Ronaldinho could have completed his hat-trick had the keeper not saved his free kick a few minutes later.

Frank Rijkaard's side are two points above Real Madrid, who moved up to second after coming from behind to beat Gimnàstic 1-3. The Catalans were the better side in the first half, and took a deserved lead when Buades converted a penalty after Cannavaro brought down Makukula on the half hour mark. Roberto Carlos equalised though with a deflected free kick just before the break, and Helguera headed home Guti's corner to put Capello's side in front soon after the restart. And Robinho wrapped things up with a third goal late on.

Valencia drop to third after losing 1-0 to Racing Santander, the Cantabrian side's first win at home all season. Racing's "Little and Large" act, Munitis and Zigic, did the damage, the ex Real Madrid and Depor forward getting in front of the defence to head the Serbian's headed pass past Cañizares ten minutes in to the second half. Local keeper Toño was only really put to work by a shot from Morientes before the interval. (28.10.06)