First division - day 7

Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of the table to two points after a 2-0 victory over Recreativo Huelva. Bernd Schuster's side had the better of the first half, with Van Nistelrooy in particular going close a couple of times, although Casillas also had to make a couple of important saves to keep the scores level at the break. Robben hit the post after the restart, and Van Nistelrooy finally opened the scoring after Raúl set him up later in the second half. There were some nervous moments though before Higuaín ran on to Guti's pass to put the game beyond Recre's reach in the dying minutes.

Barcelona are up to second after a 3-0 win over Atlético Madrid. Frank Rijkaard's side were two up early on, Deco opening the scoring on the quarter hour mark after Abbiati spilled a Messi cross into his path, and Messi picking up a return pass from Ronaldinho to make it two a few minutes later. And it was virtually one way traffic until Xavi got on the end of a cross from substitute Giovani to score a third goal in the last minute.

Villarreal drop to third though after losing 3-2 at Osasuna. Rossi gave Pellegrini's side a momentary lead, but a Javi Venta own goal and a strike by Dady turned the scoreline around. Godin levelled the scores once again before the break, but a spectacular shot from Javi García ten minutes from the end gave the Pamplona based side the three points, even though they ended with nine men after Josetxo and Ricardo were sent off near the end.

Mallorca came back from two down to beat Getafe 4-2, the second time in a row they have done so in the San Moix stadium. Sousa opened the scoring for the visitors in second minute, and added an impressive second just a couple of minutes in to the second half. But Ibagaza got one back with a hotly disputed penalty, and although Pereyra was sent off, two from Arango and another from Ramis left the Madrid based side further down in the drop zone.

Zaragoza bounced back from their midweek elimination from the UEFA cup, beating bottom club Levante 3-0 to move level with Atlético and Mallorca in the top half of the table. All the goals came in the second half, Sergio García starting things off after Diego Milito put him through, and Oliveira coming on to score two more later on.

Sevilla suffered their fourth league defeat of the season though, losing 0-1 to a Deportivo side who started the weekend in the bottom three. Verdú hit the post for the visitors early on, but otherwise the Andalusians had the better chances. However Riki got what was to prove the only goal after Guardado set him up midway through the second half.

Athletic Bilbao have yet to win at the San Mamés stadium this season, and they were held to a 1-1 draw this weekend by newcomers Almería. Etxeberría put the Basque side ahead on the half hour mark, his first goal at home in three and a half years. But Del Horno was sent off later in the first half for a hard tackle on Bruno, and Felipe Melo saved a point when he headed in Corona's corner after the restart.

Murcia and Betis cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw, a result which keeps both in mid-table. The best chances in an otherwise dull match came in the first half, Caffa firing a free kick against the crossbar and Baiano replying with a shot which Ricardo turned on to the post.

Finally Racing Santander beat Valladolid 2-0 in the last game of the evening, taking the Cantabrians up to ninth and leaving their opponents in the drop zone. Both goals came from Racing's new signings after the break, Smolarek getting the first and Tchite making it two in the final minute. Llorente was sent off for the visitors right at the end. (07.10.07)

Valencia's run of five league wins in a row came to an end when they were beaten 1-2 by Espanyol. Baraja headed the home side into the lead in the fifth minute from Villa's corner, but Riera, celebrating his call up for Spain, equalised a quarter of an hour later. And Luis García ran on to Valdo's long pass to beat Hildebrand near the end and take his side up to fifth, now only two points behind their opponents. (06.10.07)